The team leader of the geologists from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology which makes impact assessment of the magnitude 6 that hit the Northeast of Davao Region warns the public to be ready for more quakes to happen.
Dr. Jeffrey Perez, research specialist of the Phivolcs who heads the team bared that with the many faults setting underneath Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental and Davao del Norte areas, there is a big possibility that a stress transfer can happen in all the faults the same as scenario that happened in Davao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato in 2019 and 2020.
He advised local government units to enhance it information-education campaign on earthquake as a way to prepare the communities on the possible eventuality.
“We have to enhance our preparedness to prepare the communities on the impact of earthquakes,” Perez said.
He revealed that the epicenter in the latest quake in February 1 was in Davao de Oro at 6:44 in the evening with a magnitude of 6.0, 17 kilometer deep, two kilometers South-west of Compostela, Davao de Oro.
Perez based on the findings, bared that the vertical shaking was felt in Compostela and nearby areas.
He said the North-South trending fault moved which is expected in Compostela town.
“Based on the intensity-survey-assessment of our quick response team, we have reassessed our intensity, and for the intensity six it was assessed that it happened in Compostela, Nabunturan, Montevista, Monkayo, New Bataan and Mawab; for Davao del Norte, New Corella, Kapalong, Carmen and Asuncion while the Island Garden City of Samal remains under assessment,” Perez said.
He said that minor damages usually occur on areas with intensity six, characterized by cracked walls on buildings.
Perez said that 1,258 aftershocks have been noted as of February 9 at 2:00 pm with the highest last Sunday at 4.5 intensity.
“Now we can see a downtrend in the recorded aftershocks,” he said.
Perez bared the impact of the latest earthquake is lower compared to the shaking in Abra and even in Davao del Sur and North Cotabato in 2019 because of the lower magnitude with the presence of landslide but the absence of liquefaction and ground rupture. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)
