MANILA, Philippines – A magnitude 5.1 tectonic earthquake rattled parts of southern Philippines yesterday afternoon but caused no damage and casualties, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.
Phivolcs said the quake struck at 4:37 p.m. and its epicenter was located 66 kilometers southwest of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
The tremor was generated from the Cotabato trench, Phivolcs added.
It was felt at Intensity 4 in Cotabato City, Intensity 3 in Koronadal City, South Cotabato, Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and Shariff Kabunsuan, and Intensity 2 in General Santos City.
The Philippines lies in the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where colliding plates in the Earth’s crust cause frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
According to Phivolcs, about 20 quakes hit the country everyday but only a few are felt. – Helen Flores