Phivolcs recorded about 130 aftershocks after Friday's quake

COTABATO CITY -- Following the 7.7 magnitude quake that hit the eastern part of the Visayas and Mindanao Friday night, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded about 130 after shocks.

In Davao and Davao del Sur, the quake was recorded at intensity 4 which hit the region at about 8:45 p.m. causing many residents to panic, according to Desiderio Cabanlit, seismologist of Phivolcs Davao region office.

Following the minute long quake was a tsunami alert level 3 raised in the eastern part of Mindanao, specifically along the coast of Davao Oriental, Digos City and Davao Oriental.

No casualty was reported in the Davao region.

In a statement, Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said aftershocks normally happened after a major tremor.

He recalled that in February this year, close to a thousand aftershocks were recorded by Phivolcs following a quake that hit Negros Orientl.

Minutes after the earthquake that hit Visayas and Mindanao Friday night, Phivolcs raised the alert level 3 warning in Samar, Southern Leyte, Surigao and Davao region.

Two hours after the major quake which Phivolcs said was tectonic in origin, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

lowered the alert level in Indonesia but the alert level in the country remained due to monitored small tsunami waves.

In its bulletin, Philvocs said the earthquake's epicenter was traced at 10.83°N, 126.71°E - 112 km S 78° E of Guiuan (Eastern Samar). It occurred at 8:47 p.m. and was tectonic in origin.

Philvocs also reported Intensity 7 in Guian, Oras, Sulat, Borongan City in Eastern Samar; Intensity 6 in Siargao, Surigao Del Norte, Tacloban City, Palo, Leyte, Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte; Intensity 5 Mati City, Compostela, Legaspi City, Iloilo City, Bislig City, Iligan City; Intensity 4 in Butuan City, Catbalogan City, Cagayan De Oro City; Intensity 3 in Cotabato City, Mambalao, Camiguin, General Santos City and Intensity 2 in Marawi City and Sipalay City. (PNA)