A strong earthquake hit the Davao region and neighboring provinces this morning. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has the following information posted on their website:
Date: 04 Dec 2013
Time: 07:58:49 AM
Location: 06.44°N, 126.24°E – 057 km S 2° E of Mati (Davao Oriental)
Depth of Focus (Km): 052
Origin: Tectonic
Magnitude: Ms 5.7
Reported Intensities:
Intensity V – Davao City; Mati, Davao Oriental
Intensity IV – Digos City; Don Marcelino & Malita, Davao del Sur
Intensity III – Butuan City; Kidapawan City; Tagum City; Panabo City; Compostela Valley; Matanao, Davao del Sur
Intensity II – San Francisco, Agusan del Sur; Cotabato City; Gen. Santos City; Koronadal City; Polomolok, South Cotabato; Alabel Sarangani
According to PHIVOLCS, “earthquakes with M 5 to 6 are the earthquakes with moderate strength and are felt over the wide areas; some of them cause small local damages near the epicenter.”
The details of the earthquake according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) website:
Magnitude: 5.5
Date: December 4, 2013
Time: 7:58:53 UTC+08:00 (at epicenter)
Location: 6.635°N 126.120°E
Depth: 61.4km (38.1mi)
Nearby Cities:
1km (1mi) ENE of Tibanbang, Philippines
31km (19mi) SSE of Lupon, Philippines
37km (23mi) SSW of Mati, Philippines
60km (37mi) SSE of Pantukan, Philippines
926km (575mi) W of Koror Town, Palau
What must be used in reporting to the public when the data from USGS and the PHIVOLCS vary?