5.9 quake rocks parts of Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - A magnitude 5.9 earthquake rocked parts of Mindanao yesterday but there were no reports of damage or injuries, state seismologists said.

Renato Solidum, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said the tremor occurred at around 9:14 a.m. and was centered at 145 kilometers southeast of Mati, Davao Oriental.

Solidum said the quake was strongly felt at Intensity 4 in General Santos City; Intensity 3 in Davao City; Mati and Digos City, Davao del Sur; and Intensity 2 in Tagum City and Carmen, Davao del Norte.

Solidum said aftershocks are expected from the quake that had a depth of 64 kms and was tectonic in origin.

A mild tremor succeeded by a magnitude 4.5 quake jolted the Zamboanga peninsula Thursday night, Phivolcs said.

The second quake, with epicenter 48 kms north of Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte, was felt at Intensity 5 in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay; Intensity 4 in Liloy and Labason towns, and Intensity 3 in Kalawit and Salug towns, all in Zamboanga del Norte, said Phivolcs station official Allan Labayog.

It was also felt at Intensity 2 in Zamboanga City; Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur; and Sindangan and Manukan towns in Zamboanga del Norte.

Meanwhile, a magnitude 2.6 quake struck Biri, Northern Samar yesterday, but it was unfeft.