Phivolcs: Magnitude-4.4 quake jolts Davao

A magnitude-4.4 quake rocked the Davao Oriental area in Mindanao Thursday evening, but there was no initial report of damage or casualty. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the quake was recorded at 6:20 p.m. and was tectonic. Phivolcs' bulletin said the quake likely originated from the Philippine Trench and was relatively shallow. It said the epicenter was 125 km southeast of Mati, Davao Oriental. However, it did not immediately indicate specific areas where the quake was felt. No aftershocks were expected, Phivolcs said. Meanwhile, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured the quake at magnitude 5. It said the epicenter was 175 km east-southeast of Davao; 200 km east of General Santos City; 245 km south-southeast of Hinatuan; or 1,125 km southeast of Manila. Mindoro quakes Meanwhile, at least two quakes rocked Mindoro Occidental province in Southern Luzon. Phivolcs said the first quake measured magnitude 2.7 and was recorded at 6:54 a.m. It said the quake was tectonic, and its epicenter was 57 km northwest of Mamburao in Mindoro Occidental. A second quake measuring magnitude 1.9 was recorded at 10:36 a.m., which Phivolcs said was also tectonic. Phivolcs said the epicenter was 37 km northwest of Mamburao, Mindoro Occidental. It did not specify the specific areas where the quakes were felt. — LBG, GMANews.TV