Magnitude 7.1 quake rocks Davao

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocked Jose Abad Santos town, Davao Occidental, Thursday evening and was felt in nearby areas, including Davao City and General Santos City, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

The quake struck 8:23 p.m., in waters 236 kilometers west of Jose Abad Santos, PHIVOLCS said in its website.

It was tectonic in origin, with the focus located 116 kilometers below the surface, the agency said.

Intensity 5 was experienced in General Santos, followed by Intensity 4 in Davao City.

An instrumental intensity of 5 was recorded Kiamba, Sarangani; followed by instrumental intensity 4 in other parts of General Santos, as well as Alabel, Sarangani; and Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

Instrumental intensity 3 was reported in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato; Bislig City, Surigao del Sur; Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, followed by instrumental intensity 2 in Cagayan de Oro City; Surigao City; Borongan City, Eastern Samar; and instrumental intensity 1 in Catbalogan City, Samar.

Despite its strength, the quake is not expected to generate a tsunami nor cause damage, but aftershocks may occur, PHIVOLCS said.