Magnitude-6.1 quake rocks General Santos

MANILA, Philippines - A magnitude-6.1 quake rocked General Santos City before noon of Christmas Day, with weaker aftershocks to be expected, according to Renato Solidum Jr, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). No damage to property or casulties were reported. "Malakas na yan pero malalim ang pinanggalingan nito. Hindi naman nakapagdulot ng malakas na pagyanig pero ang tao sa Gensan mayuyugyog sila," Solidum said in an interview on radio dzBB. [Translation: "It's powerful enough but the source is deep below the ground. We don't expect it to cause big damage, but residents definitely felt it."] He said the quake was recorded at 11:20 a.m. and was felt at Intensity V in General Santos City, and Intensity III in the cities of Kidapawan and Cotabato. The epicenter was placed at 85 km northeast of General Santos City, he added. Solidum also allayed fears of a tsunami. "Baka magkaroon ng aftershock, malamang mas mahina ang susunod pero mararamdaman [There may just be aftershocks that may be weaker, but residents can still feel them]," he said. - GMANews.TV