Magnitude 6.4 earthquake jolts Philippines' Davao Occidental, parts of Mindanao

KORONADAL CITY, (Philippines): A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Davao Occidental on Thursday (Oct 8) afternoon, sending strong tremors across parts of Mindanao, including Soccsksargen, as heavy rains continued to pour over Koronadal City.

In Koronadal City, the shaking lasted several seconds, with the ground appearing to sway in a rocking motion.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the earthquake struck at 4:07 p.m., with its epicenter located 42 kilometers south of Balut Island in the municipality of Sarangani, Davao Occidental.

The quake had a depth of 10 kilometers.

Measured intensities and affected areas

Intensity V – Kiamba, Sarangani; City of General Santos

Intensity IV – Alabel, Glan, Maasim, Malapatan, and Malungon, Sarangani; Lake Sebu, Polomolok, T’Boli, and Tupi, South Cotabato

Intensity III – Antipas, City of Kidapawan, and Matalam, Cotabato; Maitum, Sarangani; Banga, City of Koronadal, and Tampakan, South Cotabato; Kalamansig, and Lebak, Sultan Kudarat

Intensity II – City of Zamboanga; City of Davao; M’lang, Cotabato; Norala, Santo Niño, Surallah, and Tantangan, South Cotabato; Bagumbayan, Columbio, Esperanza, Lambayong, President Quirino, Senator Ninoy Aquino,and City of Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat

Instrumental intensities (measured strength of the ground shaking) and affected areas

Intensity IV – Alabel and Malapatan, Sarangani; Lake Sebu and T’Boli, South Cotabato; City of General Santos; Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat

Intensity III – City of Digos and Matanao, Davao del Sur; Jose Abad Santos, Santa Maria, and Sarangani, Davao Occidental; City of Kidapawan, Cotabato; Maitum, Sarangani; Banga, South Cotabato; Lebak, Sultan Kudarat

Intensity II – Magsaysay, Davao del Sur; City of Davao; M’lang and President Roxas, Cotabato; Maasim, Sarangani; Santo Niño, and Surallah, South Cotabato; Esperanza, Isulan, Kalamansig, and President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat; Carmen, Surigao del Sur

Intensity I – City of Zamboanga; Kalilangan, Bukidnon; Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; Bansalan, Davao del Sur; Magpet, and Pikit, Cotabato; Tantangan, South Cotabato

Phivolcs said the tremor was an aftershock of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake off Sarangani and the magnitude 6.5 earthquake off Davao Occidental recorded in June 2026.

Residents were advised to remain alert for possible aftershocks and observe earthquake safety precautions. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN