Mild quake rocks parts of Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - A magnitude 5.3 earthquake rocked parts of Mindanao yesterday but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said the tremor struck at 8:07 a.m. with its epicenter traced at 32 kilometers southeast of Tagum City.

The quake was felt at Intensity 4 in Davao City; Intensity 3 in Tagum City, and President Roxas in North Cotabato; Intensity 2 in Matalam and Makilala in North Cotabato, Kidapawan City and General Santos City, and Intensity 1 in the Caraga region and Davao Oriental.  

The quake, which had a depth of 26 kms, was tectonic in origin caused by a movement along the Philippine Fault Zone.

On Wednesday night, a 5.1 magnitude tectonic quake also struck Maguindanao, Cotabato City, South Cotabato and General Santos City in varying intensities.

Magnitude refers to the measure of energy of an earthquake specified on the Richter scale. Intensity, on the other hand, is a measure of the severity of shaking and its attendant damage on the surface of the earth.

The Philippines lies on the so-called Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

Phivolcs said about 20 quakes hit the country every day but only a few are felt. – With John Unson