This morning, residents of Sarangani Island in Davao Occidental were startled after the tonnes of fish went viral along the coastline. A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck the waters near the island, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
In the initial report released by Phivolcs at around 4:57 a.m., the epicenter of the earthquake, which occurred at 4:48 a.m., was recorded 119 kilometers southeast of Sarangani Island. Phivolcs stated that it was tectonic in origin, meaning it resulted from the movement of an active fault near the area. The earthquake had a depth of 76 kilometers.
Seismologists reported that the tremor was felt at Instrumental Intensity IV in the towns of Malungon, Alabel, and Kiamba. Despite its strength, there is still no official report on any damage that occurred in the area.
The incident has caused fear and anxiety among the residents of Sarangani Island. According to some witnesses, they felt a strong shaking of the ground, and some houses experienced the collapse of certain items inside.
Despite these events, the local government immediately issued a warning for possible aftershocks and advised people to be prepared for any potential occurrences. Authorities are also monitoring critical infrastructure such as bridges and buildings to ensure the safety of everyone.
The earthquake in Sarangani Island has raised concerns about the safety of residents and emphasizes the importance of proper and safe preparedness for such events. The vigilant observation of Phivolcs and other agencies involved in seismology is expected to thoroughly study the incident and maintain the safety of the public.