Another tremor jolts Mindanao

DAVAO CITY — Another earthquake jolted certain parts of Mindanao yesterday, barely 24 hours after a tremor with a magnitude of 6.6 on the Richter scale shook the same areas on New Year’s Day.

The earthquake, which registered an Intensity 3, struck this city at about 3:40 yesterday afternoon, sending residents scampering for safety. The tremor lasted for nearly one minute.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the earthquake could be an aftershock of the previous day’s tremor.

The Phivolcs said it has not received any report of damages.

Meanwhile, the Jan. 1 tremor, which was tectonic in origin, was also felt strongest at Intensity 6 in Bislig, Surigao del Sur and General Santos City. Its epicenter was centered in the sea 66 kilometers east of Mati, Davao Oriental.

Other areas jolted by the tremor were the cities of Davao, Cagayan, Cebu and Kidapawan and the provinces of Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Agusan del Norte.

The Office of Civil Defense said the New Year’s Day quake reportedly caused large cracks on several buildings, including shopping malls, in the affected areas.

According to reports, provincial and municipal government buildings in Mati also suffered cracks.

The Davao City engineer’s office ordered yesterday an assessment of the earthquake-readiness of public and private buildings. — Edith Regalado