Magnitude 5.0 earthquake recorded offshore Davao Oriental

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurred on Saturday morning offshore Davao Oriental, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said.

The quake was recorded to have occurred at 6:45 a.m.

PHIVOLCS said the epicenter was at 07.97°N, 127.28°E - 090 km N 61° E of the municipality of Baganga, Davao Oriental.

It had a depth of 10 km and was tectonic in origin.

PHIVOLCS said no damage is expected but aftershocks may occur.

PHIVOLCS Director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol said they are checking if this magnitude 5.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that occurred in Lingig, Surigao del Sur on Saturday morning.

"Medyo magkalapit [ang Lingig at Baganga]. Tinitignan namin kung aftershock ito ng magnitude 6.5 na lindol... Nasa Philippine trench ito. Hindi ito makakapag-generate ng tsunami...," he said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(Lingig and Baganga are quite near each other. We are checking if this is an aftershock of the earlier earthquake with magnitude 6.5. It is in the Philippine Trench. It will not generate a tsunami.)

The magnitude 6.8 earthquake was previously recorded at magnitude 6.5. PHIVOLCS updated it to magnitude 6.8.

Bacolcol advised the public to do the duck, cover, and hold posture whenever earthquakes occur.

"Kapag may malakas na aftershocks, do the duck, cover and hold... Once the shaking stops, they have to evacuate immediately... Kapag may mga visible crack sa kanilang bahay, 'wag munang pumasok at kumonsulta sa kanilang local engineers," he said.

(When there are strong aftershocks, do the duck, cover and hold... When there are visible cracks in your house, do not go in yet, but instead consult local engineers.) —KG, GMA Integrated News