Phivolcs updates Davao Occidental quake from 5.8 to 6.1

(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines: The magnitude 5.8 earthquake that was recorded in Davao Occidental earlier on Wednesday was raised to 6.1, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Tectonic in origin, the tremor occurred around 10:48 a.m. some 413 kilometers southeast of Balut Island (Municipality of Sarangani), also in the same province, Phivolcs Director Teresito «Toto» Bacolcol said.

He said the earthquake had a depth of focus of 173kms.

Phivolcs said both damage to infrastructure and aftershocks are unlikely from the latest tremor.

Bacolcol told The Manila Times that the Balut Island earthquake was 417kms away from the epicenter of the November 17 magnitude 6.8 tremor.

«It's a different place and it's almost in an Indonesia area,» he added.

Intensity 2 was felt by residents in General Santos City; Glan, Alabel, Malapatan, Malungon and Kiamba, Sarangani; Tupi, Koronadalno City and T'boli, South Cotabato while Intensity 1 in Palomok, Surallah and Lake Sebu, South Cotabato; Maasim and Maitum, Sarangani.

Meanwhile, Instrumental Intensity 2 was recorded in Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental; Malungon, Glan, Alabel and Kiamba, Sarangani; Tupi and T'boli, South Cotabato; and Intensity 1 over Maitum, Sarangani; General Santos City; and Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.