3 major quakes rattle Southern Philippines
July 24, 2010
BUTUAN CITY – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and various disaster councils in Southern Philippines were mobilized in the wake of three strong earthquakes that occurred successively Saturday morning in the country’s second largest island.
However, there were no immediate reports of damages or casualties as the OCD and regional and other local disaster Councils in Mindanao are still gathering data from the field.
Personnel from the OCD and Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils (RDCCs) in Central Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula and Northeastern Mindanao were already deployed to monitor the effects of the tremors.
“We are still monitoring reports from the field,” said Northeastern Mindanao OCD Regional Director Blanche T. Gobenciong.
The website of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the first quake at a depth of 604.5 kilometers was recorded at around 6:08 a.m. Saturday, with the epicenter at 100 kilometers southwest of the frontier southern city of Cotabato of Central Mindanao.
It was also felt in the cities of Zamboanga, Pagadian, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Koronadal, Central Mindanao, respectively, the USGS said.
The USGS also reported that the second 7.6 magnitude tremor, at a depth of 576.3 kilometers, was recorded shortly before 7 a.m.
The third temblor, about 7.4 in magnitude, occurred at a depth of 616.7 kilometers at around 7:15 a.m.
A relatively weaker tremor was recorded at 6:19 a.m. that had a depth of 594.8 kilometers with the epicenter estimated at 95 kilometers west-southwest of Cotabato City or 115 kilometers south of Pagadian City.
Many residents in the affected areas said during radio interviews that they were sleeping when the first strong quake awoke them.
Meanwhile, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Director Renato Solidum said that due to the depth records of the quakes, tsunamis were unlikely.
He added that as of press time, there were no reports of damages or casualties.
“There’s no cause for alarm,” Solidum said.
The Philippines sits on the so-called Pacific “Ring of Fire” where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activities.
The worst earthquake in the Philippines took place on August 16, 1976, when more than 5,000 people were reported killed or missing in the Moro Gulf Region in Mindanao. (Philippine News Agency)
Random Posts
Comments
Got something to say?
MESSAGE BOARD
Got something to say? Write them at everyCOMMENT BOXES found below every posted story/article. Click any article NOW!
TOP COMMENTATORS:
- wei-lyn undih: maam/sir…….gus2 ko lng po sna mgtnung if keln po ang ssunod n exam ng NEURO? willing po...
- joner: good morning magtatanong lng po sna ako kung pwde po mag apply ang sa male n 5’2 ang heigt.salamat!..
- raeziel: good afternoon. i just want to clarify this information i got from a friend about PDEA’s job vacancy...
- thets: sir, may hiring po ba dis yr 2012 sa pdea? please informed me on my email address. thank you
- aldrin capate: sir/ma’am, good day po! ask ko lng po kng kelan po ang sched ng exam dis year 2012? registered...
Want to advertise with the HOTTEST NEWSPAPERS in Cagayan de Oro at SUPER SUPER LOW RATES?!Call/text Jeric 0922-863-7960 or email at mindanaodaily@yahoo.com...
