A TOTAL of six earthquakes shook various parts of Mindanao, Saturday, August 5, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.
The first tremblor was felt in Lingig town, Surigao del Sur at 1:08 a.m. with a magnitude 2.5 in the Richter scale. The quake struck 59 kilometers northeast of the town. It had a depth of 30 kilometers.
The second quake rock Manay town in Davao Oriental around 5:38 a.m. with magnitude 3.1. The quake, which was tectonic in origin, had a depth of 14 kilometers. No damage was reported in the two separate earthquake incidents.
Around 8:30 a.m., a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck Malapatan town in Sarangani province, affecting other towns and cities in Mindanao. Its epicenter was 22 kilometers southeast of Malapatan, with a 30-kilometer depth.
The quake in Malapatan was tectonic in origin. Intensity 5 was felt in Malapatan and Alabel in Sarangani and General Santos City; Intensity 4 was felt in Digos City and Kiamba, Sarangani; while Intensity 3 was felt in Davao City and in Lebak town in Sultan Kudarat.
Around 1:03 p.m., a 4.1-magnitude quake struck Siayan town in Zamboanga del Norte with its epicenter 11 kilometers southeast of the town. It was tectonic in origin with a depth of 9 kilometers.
Intensity 3 was felt in Siayan town and Intensity 2 in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte.
By 3:39 p.m., a magnitude 5 quake struck Valencia City in Bukidnon with the epicenter 11 kilometers southwest of the city. It was tectonic in origin with a depth of 10 kilometers.
The earthquake was felt at Intensity 5 in Valencia City; Intensity 4 in Malaybalay City and Maramag; Intensity 3 in Cagayan de Oro City and Kidapawan City; Intensity 2 in Kalilangan, Bukidnon and Intensity 1 in Mambajao, Camiguin Island.
Instrumental intensity were recorded in Cagayan de Oro City (Intensity 3) and Kidapawan City (Intensity 2).
At 4:16 p.m., another quake struck Valencia City with a magnitude 4.0. Its epicenter was located 16 kilometers southwest of the city with a depth of 8 kilometers. It was tectonic in origin.
The tremblor was felt at Intensity at Intensity 4 in Valencia City, Intensity 2 in Malaybalay City and Maramag, Bukidnon. Instrumental intensity 1 was recorded Kidapawan City.
Phivolcs reported no damage in all these incidents.
The Philippines is on a geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire where continental plates collide, causing frequent quakes and volcanic activity. (with reports from SunStar Philippines)