The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology PHIVOLCS
has upgraded the magnitude of the offshore earthquake that struck southern
Mindanao on Monday morning, June 8, to 7.8. Authorities have issued warnings
for aftershocks and a possible tsunami following the powerful seismic event.
The earthquake occurred at 7:37 a.m. at a depth of 33
kilometers. Its epicenter was traced to an area approximately 32 kilometers
south, slightly west of Maasim in Sarangani province. An earlier assessment had
placed the quake at magnitude 7.0, with the initial epicenter identified nearer
to General Santos City, before further analysis led to the revision.
Ground shaking was widely felt across Mindanao and nearby
regions, with varying levels of intensity depending on location. General Santos
City experienced destructive shaking classified at Intensity 7. Surrounding
areas also reported significant impact, including Palimbang and Senator Ninoy
Aquino in Sultan Kudarat, which registered Intensity 6, described as very
strong.
A broader swath of southern and central Mindanao recorded
Intensity 5 shaking. This included Davao City, parts of Cotabato such as
Kidapawan and Carmen, several municipalities in Sultan Kudarat like Bagumbayan,
Kalamansig, and President Quirino, as well as Sibuco and Siocon in Zamboanga
del Norte.
More moderate effects at Intensity 4 were observed in Mati
City in Davao Oriental, Buug in Zamboanga Sibugay, and multiple areas in Davao
Oriental including Caraga, Manay, and Tarragona. Weaker tremors extended
further into parts of Surigao del Norte, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del
Sur, as well as select areas in Leyte, Southern Leyte, Bukidnon, Misamis
Oriental, and Cagayan de Oro.
Instrumental readings confirmed even stronger localized
ground motion. The highest recorded instrumental intensity reached Intensity 8
in Malapatan, Sarangani. Intensity 7 levels were measured in Koronadal City in
South Cotabato and Santa Maria in Davao Occidental. Meanwhile, Intensity 6
readings were logged in General Santos City and T’boli in South Cotabato.
Seismologists continue to monitor the situation closely, particularly for aftershock activity and any sea-level disturbances that may follow the offshore movement. The event underscores how a single tectonic rupture beneath the sea can transmit energy across a wide geographic area, producing varying levels of shaking depending on local ground conditions.
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