(Eagle News) — Two quakes hit the country in the early hours of Saturday, August 3 — a magnitude 5.6 quake in Davao Occidental and a magnitude 5 quake in Northern Samar, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
The quake in Davao Occidental occurred at 12:10 a.m., some 48 kilometers northeast of Jose Abad Santos. It was of tectonic origin and was quite deep at 143 kilometers. Because of this, it was felt only at intensity 3 in the towns of Alabel and KIamba in Sarangani, and in General Santos City. It was felt at intensity 2 in Tupi, South Cotabato.
However, the quake in Northern Samar, which was also of tectonic origin, was shallower, with a depth of 20 kilometers. Its epicenter was located 29 kilometers northwest of Pambujan in Northern Samar and hit the area at 1:28 a.m.
This quake was felt at intensity 3 in Virac, Catanduanes, and at intensity 2 in Legazpi City and in Sorsogon City, according to Phivolcs.
Both quakes are expected to have aftershocks, although no damage is expected because of the “weak” intensities in areas where they were felt, data from Phivolcs said.