FOUR moderate earthquakes, ranging from magnitude 5.1 to 5.9, hit Sultan Kudarat and Davao Occidental yesterday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology (Phivolcs) reported.
The first was a magnitude 5.9 tremor that occurred at 12:11 a.m. Its epicenter was some 50 km southwest of Palimbang, South Cotabato. It was tectonic in origin and had a depth of 1 km, Phivolcs said.
It was felt at Intensity V in Palimbang and Lebak, also in Sultan Kudarat; and in Kiamba in Sarangani. The shaking was also felt at Intensity IV in Alabel, Glan, and Maitum in Sarangani; T’Boli, and Tupi in South Cotabato; and Kalamansig in Sultan Kudarat.
Phivolcs said it was expecting aftershocks and damage from the quake.
The second earthquake, magnitude 5.1, hit Palimbang town at 12:50 a.m. Its epicenter was some 46 km southwest of the town. The shaking was felt at Intensity III and lower in several other areas.
Damage and aftershocks were not expected, Phivolcs said.
The third quake occurred also in Palimbang, with epicenter at some 40 km southwest of the town. It was felt at Intensity V in Palimbang and Intensity IV in Kalamansig.
