DAVAO, Apr 21 (NNN-PNA) – An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9, jolted 51 km ESE of Mati, the Philippines, at 5:57 a.m. this morning (21:57:46 GMT on Wednesday), the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported.
The epicentre, with a depth of 51.33 km, was initially determined to be at 6.9827 degrees north latitude and 126.9453 degrees east longitude.
The quake hit at a shallow depth of 10 km beneath the epicentre near Mati, Davao Oriental, Davao, Philippines. The earthquakes are felt more strongly than deeper ones, as they are closer to the surface.
The exact magnitude, epicentre, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.
A second report was later issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), which listed it as a magnitude 6.2 earthquake. Other agencies reporting the same quake include the citizen-seismograph network of RaspberryShake, at magnitude 5.9, and the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) at magnitude 5.8.
Generally quakes of this magnitude are recorded by more than one agency and the results can vary, with subsequent reports that come in after the first one often showing more accuracy.
Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake was probably felt by many people in the area of the epicentre. It should not have caused significant damage, other than objects falling from shelves, broken windows, etc.
In Manay (pop. 20,300) located 55 km from the epicentre, San Ignacio (pop. 6,300) 58 km away, Caraga (pop. 4,400) 59 km away, Central (pop. 10,100) 78 km away, Mati (pop. 105,900) 87 km away, and Compostela (pop. 42,600) 124 km away, the quake should have been felt as light shaking.
Weak shaking might have been felt in Magugpo Poblacion (pop. 233,300) located 140 km from the epicentre.– NNN-PNA
