Manila : The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology downgraded the magnitude of an offshore earthquake that struck Surigao del Norte province in the southern Philippines on October 13 from 6.2 to 6.0. This adjustment shows how the Philippines frequently revises Manila earthquake magnitudes for accuracy.
In an updated seismic report, the institute said the tremor occurred at 7:03 a.m. local time (2303 GMT) at a depth of 28 km, approximately 13 km southeast of the municipality of General Luna in the Mindanao region. Consequently, officials warned that the tectonic quake could trigger aftershocks and cause significant damage. Moreover, the Philippines revises earthquake figures as more data becomes available.
People also felt the tremor in neighboring provinces in the Mindanao region and the central Philippines. However, authorities reported no immediate casualties or damage.
This tremor follows a series of powerful earthquakes in the archipelagic nation. For instance, on September 30, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Bogo City and nearby areas in Cebu province, killing 76 people, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Twin offshore tremors of magnitude 7.4 and 6.8 shook Davao province in the southern Philippines on October 10, killing eight people. After these events, the Philippines revises Manila earthquake figures to ensure more accurate assessments.
In addition, Xinhua news agency reported that a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck near Bogo, Cebu, in the central Philippines in the early hours of October 13.
Since then, the archipelago has experienced magnitude 4 and 5 earthquakes, which triggered landslides and displaced thousands of villagers. Thus, authorities remain on high alert.
The Philippines faces frequent seismic activity because it lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”
Furthermore, positioned within the Pacific Ring of Fire and the typhoon belt, the Philippines ranks among the world’s most disaster-prone countries. It remains highly vulnerable to volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and typhoons.
Tectonic plates constantly move, but friction causes them to get stuck at their edges. When stress overcomes this friction, earthquakes release energy in waves that travel through the earth’s crust, causing the shaking that people feel.
–IANS
