A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 struck the waters off Sarangani in
Davao Occidental on Friday afternoon, sending tremors across parts of Mindanao,
including General Santos City.
Initial reports have not revealed if there was any Boholano who got injured or
perished in last Friday’s strongest tremor yet felt in Gensan in decades.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS),
the quake occurred at 4:30 p.m. and was tectonic in origin.
The quake was felt at Intensity 8 in General Santos City, Glan and Malapatan in
Sarangani, and Alabel in South Cotabato; Intensity VII in Davao City, Koronadal City,
and Tupi in South Cotabato; and Intensity VI in Kidapawan City, Cotabato City, and
Zamboanga City.
PHIVOLCS said that no tsunami alert was issued, but warned of possible
aftershocks and damage.
Some residents of General Santos City reported feeling strong shaking and hearing
loud rumbling noises during the quake.
“I was in the office when the quake hit. It was very strong and lasted for about a
minute. I heard some cracking sounds from the walls and ceiling. We quickly ran
outside to the open area,” said Rodel Santos, a government employee.
Another resident, Liza Reyes, said that she was in the mall when the quake struck.
“The lights went out and the alarm sounded. People were screaming and panicking.
We followed the instructions of the security guards and evacuated the building. It
was very scary,” she said.
Some buildings and structures in the city sustained minor damage, such as cracks
and fallen debris, but no major structural damage was reported.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said that they conducted
rapid assessment and inspection of the affected areas and found no serious impact.
“There were no reported accidents, casualties, or any damage to property as a result
of the quake,” CDRRMO told reporters.
CDDRMO added that the city government has activated its emergency response
teams and coordinated with the barangays and other agencies to ensure the safety
and welfare of the residents.
The city government has assured the public that the city is prepared and resilient in
the face of disasters.
“We are thankful that the quake did not cause any major harm to our city. We urge
our people to remain calm and vigilant, and to follow the safety protocols and
guidelines of the authorities,” City Hall said in a statement.
The quake was also felt in other parts of Mindanao, such as Davao, Cotabato,
Zamboanga, and Maguindanao.
The quake was the strongest to hit the region since the magnitude 6.4 earthquake
that struck off Sarangani in December 2020, which injured three people and
damaged several buildings.