6.2-magnitude quake hits Siargao Island

BUTUAN CITY – A powerful magnitude-6.2 tectonic earthquake struck Siargao Island just before midnight Friday, March 8, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

The strong tremor was also felt in this city and other neighboring areas in Caraga region.

Many residents were awakened and immediately ran to the streets for safety. No one was reported hurt.

As of press time, the regional office of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC), Northeastern Mindanao Office of Civil Defense (OCD), both based here, and the Surigao del Norte (PDRRMC) reported no damage or injury.

Surigao del Sur Norte Governor Sol F. Matugas and the constituency office of 1st District Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Jose F. Matugas II immediately dispatched rescue teams to the island’s nine tourist destination towns to check the status of tourists and residents in Siargao Island, particularly in the epicenter area of the earthquake.

In its bulletin, Phivolcs said the earthquake struck at 11:06 p.m. on Friday (March 8).

The epicenter was plotted 38 kilometers northwest of Pacific Ocean facing town of Burgos, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte province.

The tremor had a depth of only 16 km, it said.