MANILA, PHILIPPINES, Aug 3 (NNN-PNA) – Two offshore earthquakes, with magnitude 5.6 and 5, struck southern and central Philippines respectively, early today (Saturday), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
The first 5.6-magnitude quake hit Davao Occidental, in southern Philippines at 12:10 a.m. local time, the institute said.
The institute said, the offshore quake in Davao Occidental province hit at a depth of 143 km, about 48 km north-east of Jose Abad Santos town.
The second 5-magnitude earthquake, which rocked the Northern Samar province, in central Philippines at 1:28 a.m. local time, hit at a depth of 20 km, about 29 km north-west of Pambujan town.
The quakes were also felt in neighbouring provinces, the institute added. However, it said, there was no reported casualties or damage in both earthquakes.
The institute said, the tremors, which were both tectonic in origin, triggered aftershocks.
Last week, three successive earthquakes struck the Philippines’ northernmost Batanes islands, killing eight and injuring 63 others.
The Philippines is an earthquake-prone country, registering quakes every day, though most are not felt. Phivolcs records an average of 20 earthquakes a day and 100 to 150 earthquakes are felt per year.– NNN-PNA
