A magnitude-7.2 earthquake struck southern Philippines, leading to evacuations and causing structural damage to buildings.
The quake’s epicenter was identified west of Sarangani in the Davao Occidental province, located in the southern part of the nation, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
The powerful tremor occurred at 4:14 pm local time on Friday, November 17, and its impact was felt across several surrounding provinces.
The good news emerged as Phivolcs quickly assured that there was no threat of a tsunami in the aftermath of the earthquake.
Despite this, the seismic activity prompted swift evacuations and raised concerns about the structural integrity of various buildings.
Patients were hurriedly evacuated from a hospital in General Santos City, and workers hastily fled offices in Davao City, as reported by ABS-CBN News through Facebook posts.
The impact of the earthquake was visibly destructive, with debris from ceilings strewn across the floor of a shopping mall in General Santos, owned by SM Prime Holdings Inc.
Additionally, a crane collapsed on a building under construction in Davao City, as documented by state-run Radyo Pilipinas on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Phivolcs provided detailed information about the earthquake’s specifics, revealing that it had a magnitude of 7.2 and originated at a depth of 10 kilometers, about 30 kilometers south 81° west of Sarangani.
The intensity of the quake varied across different areas, reaching Intensity VIII in Glan, Saranggani, and General Santos City, South Cotabato.
Other regions experienced varying degrees of intensity, ranging from V to IV.
The institute warned of expected damage from the quake and the possibility of aftershocks.
While emphasizing that no destructive tsunami threat existed based on available sea-level data, Phivolcs highlighted the potential for unusual sea level disturbances along coasts near the earthquake epicenter in Davao Occidental.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as residents and communities grapple with the aftermath of this significant seismic event.
The Daily Netizen 