A powerful magnitude 6.2 earthquake rattled the southern Philippines late Saturday, shaking coastal communities and prompting residents to rush into the streets, though authorities reported no immediate casualties or major damage.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the tectonic quake struck at 10:32 p.m. local time, centered 22 kilometers (14 miles) northeast of Cagwait municipality in Surigao del Sur province at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles). The event, felt as a sharp jolt followed by rolling waves, briefly interrupted evening routines across Mindanao and nearby islands, with some describing the ground as heaving like a restless sea.
Reported Intensity IV shaking — enough to alarm people indoors, sway light fixtures and topple unsecured objects — was felt in Davao City and the municipalities of Cagwait and Carmen in Surigao del Sur. Intensity III effects, which can make standing difficult and rattle windows, were reported in Bislig City in Surigao del Sur and Mati City in Davao Oriental.
Instrumental readings, based on seismic data, pegged Intensity IV in Cabadbaran City in Agusan del Norte; Nabunturan in Davao de Oro; Hinunangan in Southern Leyte; and Tandag City in Surigao del Sur. Lighter Intensity III vibrations registered in San Fernando in Bukidnon; Digos City in Davao del Sur; Abuyog in Leyte; Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental; Malungon in Sarangani; Hinundayan and Silago in Southern Leyte; Surigao City in Surigao del Norte; and Bislig City in Surigao del Sur.
In the hours after the quake, local disaster officials in the affected provinces activated emergency protocols, conducting rapid assessments of buildings and infrastructure. “We’re monitoring closely for any aftershocks, but so far, the response has been swift and coordinated,” a spokesperson for the Office of Civil Defense in Region 13 told reporters early Sunday.
The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands straddling the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences thousands of earthquakes annually due to its position at the convergence of multiple tectonic plates. Saturday’s tremor underscores the nation’s constant vulnerability, where even moderate quakes can trigger landslides in the rugged terrain of Mindanao.
Phivolcs warned of possible aftershocks in the coming days and urged residents to brace for more shaking while avoiding damaged structures. As dawn broke Sunday, life in the quake zone appeared to resume with cautious normalcy, a testament to the resilience of communities long accustomed to the earth’s unpredictable fury.
