The earthquakes experienced today in Carmen town, North Cotabato and the rest of Mindanao will possibly last for weeks or months. This was according to Jenila de Ocampo, Officer-in-charge of the Davao Seismic Station of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), in a phone interview. She added the intensity might either be "felt" or "unfelt" by humans. On Monday morning, two strong quakes struck Carmen. A 5.7 magnitude was felt at 4:08 AM with epicenter at seven Kilometers (Km) Northeast of the town. It has a depth of 10 Km. The town was placed under Intensity VI. "An Intensity VI in the PEIS (Phivolcs Earthquake Intensity Scale) means there will be a minimal damage to poorly built structures, or those with light materials and even concrete structures which do not meet building standards like the proper placement of steel bars," De Ocampo explained.
Earthquakes rattle Philippines: one of many houses in Carmen, North Cotabato damaged by the 5.7 magnitude earthquake Saturday
At 7:31 AM, another quake jolted Carmen town. A 4.0 magnitude was recorded with epicenter at 7 Km Northeast of the town. It has a depth of 3 Km. Intensity II was felt in Matalam town, North Cotabato. On Saturday evening, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake rocked the town which hurt 5 people, damaged 60 houses in Kimadsil village alone, and destroyed a bridge as well as agricultural facilities, school buildings and health centers. The said quake, according to De Ocampo, "is shallow and tectonic in origin." Its depth was at 5 Km. "Strong earthquakes which are tectonic will cause aftershocks until the energy dissipates. In the case of Carmen which was hit by shallow quakes, the energy of the quake has little chance to dissipate when it reaches the surface," she said.
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