PHIVOLCS: Expect aftershocks after magnitude 6.9 quake in Davao

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Monday said residents in Davao del Sur may still expect aftershocks until next week after the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck on Sunday afternoon, according to a report by James Agustin on GMA News' Unang Balita.

As of 5 a.m. Monday, PHIVOLCS has already recorded 457 aftershocks.

Of this number, 130 were plotted or located and 41 were felt.

Sunday's earthquake had its epicenter in the municipality of Matanao in Davao del Sur.

According to PHIVOLCS Senior Science Research Specialist Dr. Rommel Grutas, movement of the Tangbulan Fault caused the earthquake. This fault has the capacity to cause a magnitude 7.2 temblor.

PHIVOLCS has already sent a quick response team to the epicenter site to assess the fault.

×

Need a wellness break? Sign up for The Boost!

Stay up-to-date with the latest health and wellness reads.

Please enter a valid email address

Sign Up

Your email is safe with us

The temblor on Sunday was a shallow one thus it was more felt, with the movement being vertical near the epicenter and horizontal in areas farther away.

PHIVOLCS is still determining whether the magnitude 6.9 earthquake on Sunday is related to the recent major earthquakes in Mindanao.

Aftershocks may continue in the next two to three days, although these may be weaker.

Since October this year, Mindanao has been jolted by strong quakes, one after another, with victims hardly recovering from shock and displacement when another one strikes again.

A magnitude-6.5 earthquake rocked parts of Mindanao on October 31, following a bigger one occurring on October 29 at magnitude 6.6, which followed the one on October 16 with 6.3 magnitude.

As of November 3, the combined death toll from the earthquakes was at 22, according to the latest update from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. —KG, GMA News