(Image grabbed from Phivolcs' Facebook page) MANILA - A magnitude 7.3 earthquake jolted Davao Occidental on Wednesday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. The tectonic quake with a depth of 64 km struck 352 km southeast of Sarangani at 2:06 p.m. Phivolcs logged the following instrumental intensities in a bulletin issued at 2:15 p.m. Intensity II Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental; Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; Glan and Kiamba, Sarangani; General Santos City, Tupi, Santo Nino, Koronadal City, and T'Boli, South Cotabato Intensity I Kidapawan City, Cotabato; Maitum and Maasim, Sarangani; Tantangan, Lake Sebu, Tampakan, Suralla, and Norala, South Cotabato; Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur Compared to a reported intensity that is based on reports of people who felt the earthquake, instrumental intensity is measured using an intensity meter that measures ground acceleration. Phivolcs said both aftershocks and damage are expected from the magnitude 7.
The Philippine National Police has beefed up its security after the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army declared it will not observe a ceasefire for the holiday season.