Magnitude 5.5 quake strikes off Davao Occidental

MANILA — A magnitude 5.5 earthquake hit waters off Davao Occidental on Wednesday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said. 

The tremor hit about 9 kilometers west of Balut Island, Sarangani at 07:43 a.m. It had a depth of 10 kilometers. 

The quake was felt at Intensity 3 in General Santos City. This intensity could feel like the passing of a light truck and make hanging objects swing moderately, PHIVOLCS said. 

PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol noted that the tremor was an aftershock of a stronger magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao in June and left dozens dead.

“We still expect na every now and then, may aftershocks pa,” Bacolcol told DZMM TeleRadyo. 

He said Wednesday’s earthquake was not strong enough to spawn a tsunami or damage property.