Magnitude 6.1 quake jolts Davao Occidental

MANILA — A magnitude 6.1 earthquake shook the province of Davao Occidental on Monday afternoon, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

In its bulletin, the agency said the tremor occurred at 3:59 p.m. with its epicenter traced at 88 kilometers southeast of Don Marcelino town, Davao Occidental.

Phivolcs said the tremor was felt at Intensity 4 in Governor Generoso town, Davao Oriental; Intensity 3 in Glan, Sarangani; Mati City, and Davao City; Intensity 2 in General Santos City, and Intensity 1 in M’lang, North Cotabato; Tupi and Koronadal, South Cotabato.

The tremor, which was tectonic in origin, had a shallow depth of 10 kilometers.

Despite the reported intensity, Phivolcs noted that there was no casualty nor damage reported from the quake.

However, the agency said that aftershocks are expected in some of the affected areas.

The Philippines lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where 20 to 25 earthquakes per day — mostly imperceptible — are common.