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The magnitude 7.4 tremor that hit offshore of Davao Oriental on Friday morning was produced by the Philippine Trench and is unrelated to the recent shakes that took place in Cebu and La Union, according to the national seismology agency.
“Alright, so we’re not observing any pattern. Again, these are all typical occurrences. The Philippines is highly geologically active, and we have over 180 active fault segments,” Teresito C. Bacolcol, head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), stated in a mix of English and Tagalog during a press conference on Friday.
“We also possess six trenches, and there’s always a chance of earthquakes happening consecutively,” he further mentioned.
The Philippine Trench is among the six most dynamic trenches in the nation, positioned along the eastern coastline of Visayas and Mindanao.
Mr. Bacolcol noted that throughout its history, the trench has caused numerous earthquakes surpassing magnitude 7 in the vicinity, especially the magnitude 8.3 incident in 1924.
Meanwhile, the distinct quakes that transpired in La Union on Thursday morning were the result of separate tectonic activities, Mr. Bacolcol explained, while the devastating quake in Cebu on September 30 was initiated by the recently identified Bogo Bay Fault.
“The activity of one fault will not activate or instigate the activities of another. Thus, they are not interconnected,” Mr. Bacolcol stated.
In light of the recent earthquakes, the director urged the public to remain calm and avoid succumbing to unreliable earthquake forecasts typically shared online, emphasizing that no current technology can precisely predict earthquakes.
“So instead of panicking or succumbing to fear, we need to prepare,” Mr. Bacolcol stated.
PHIVOLCS removes all tsunami alerts
As of 1:43 p.m., PHIVOLCS had rescinded all tsunami alerts it previously issued for coastal regions of Davao Oriental and surrounding provinces following the earthquake.
PHIVOLCS recorded a tsunami wave elevation of only 30 centimeters at the Tandag, Surigao del Sur Sea Level Monitoring Station at 10:20 a.m. Mr. Bacolcol indicated that this wave height is not deemed destructive.
However, aftershocks continue to take place, with PHIVOLCS documenting over 179 incidents, ten of which were perceptible.
The agency reminded the public that aftershocks are anticipated to continue in the upcoming days and weeks, ranging from magnitude 1.3 to 5.8, and potentially reaching as high as magnitude 6.4. — Edg Adrian A. Eva
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