APD | Strong quakes rock southern island of Mindando, the Philippines

APD NEWS

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By APD writerMelo M. Acuna

MANILA, Dec.29 (APD) – A 7.2 magnitude earthquake shook Eastern Mindanao at 11:39 A.M., the strongest of six tremors from 4:19 A.M. today.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the epicenter was located at 170 kilometers southeast of Governor Generoso town in Davao Oriental from a depth of 49 kilometers.

Science and Technology Undersecretary Renato Solidum said the latest earthquake was of tectonic origin. (File Photo/Melo M. Acuna)

Science and Technology Undersecretary Renato Solidum said the earthquake was of tectonic origin.

At 12:26 P.M., the same office issued its Tsunami Information No. 1 said the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.1. The advisory said there may be minor sea level disturbances which include strong currents and rapid rise and fall of seawaters.

“The concerned public is advised to be on alert for unusual waves,” the advisory read. It added based on tsunami wave models and early tide gauge recorders of the tsunami in the Philippine Sea, coastal areas in Philippine provinces fronting the Philippine Sea are expected to “experience wave heights of less than one meter above the normal tide levels.

“The first tsunami waves will arrive between 12:00 – 2:00 P.M. and may not be the largest and the waves will continue for hours,” the advisory further read.

The called on the population to stay away from the beach and not to go to the coast fronting the Philippine Sea. The advisory applies to 10 provinces and Davao City as residents near the shoreline should move father inland.

Four other earthquakes with a Magnitude of 2.0 magnitude were reported Surigao del Sur, San Jose, Dinagat Province, Bayabas, Surigao del Sur and Banilisan town in North Cotabato, all in the southern island of Mindanao.

No damage has been reported as of this writing.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)