Quakes jolt Mindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 24, 2010) – Four earthquakes shook Mindanao on Saturday morning, but there were no reports of injuries or serious damage to structures in the southern Philippine region, the United States Geological Survey said.

It said the earthquakes hit in quick succession in the Moro Gulf. The magnitudes of the earthquakes were recorded at 7.3 at a depth of a little over 604 kilometers whose epicenter was located 102 kilometers southwest of Cotabato; 5.4 at a depth of 594.8 kilometers and the epicenter was located 95 kilometers west-southwest of Cotabato.

The third earthquake, whose magnitude was 7.6, occurred at a depth of 576.3 kilometers. Its epicenter was traced 115 kilometers southwest of Cotabato and the fourth had a 7.4 magnitude at a depth of 616.7 kilometers and epicenter was located 121 kilometers southwest of Cotabato. It was felt in several areas near Cotabato.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center based in Hawaii said the earthquake did not generate tsunami.

The Philippines sits on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a 40,000-kilometer area where large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean. It has more than 400 volcanoes and sometimes called the circum-Pacific seismic belt. (With a report from Mark Navales)

Strong Quake Hits Southern Philippines

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 25, 2008) - An earthquake measuring 6.2 in the Richter Scale shook the southern Philippines on Thursday, but there were no reports of casualties or injuries.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at 11:20 a.m. local time (10:20 p.m. ET) at about 55 kilometers (35 miles) southeast of General Santos at a depth of 207 kilometers (129 miles). It was also felt in other areas nearby.

"It was strong. My chair was shaking and I thought I was going to fall from where I sit," said Geonarri Solmerano, the Mindanao Examiner photojournalist in Kidapawan City.

The Philippines is located in the so-called "Ring of Fire," an area of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions encircling the basin of the Pacific Ocean.

In a 40,000 km horseshoe shape, it is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, and volcanic belts and plate movements.

The Ring of Fire has 452 volcanoes and is home to over 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes. It is sometimes called the circum-Pacific belt or the circum-Pacific seismic belt. (Mindanao Examiner)