FLASH UPDATE #1 – M6.9 Earthquake in Surigao del Sur
Country under monitoring: Philippines
OVERVIEW: At 2137 HRS UTC+7 of 2 December 2023, a M6.9 earthquake with epicentre at 8.52N, 126.69E and a depth of 8 km (located 42 km north 66 degrees east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur) rocked Mindanao as reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS: According to the PHIVOLCS, at most intensity V is reported for City of Bislig (Surigao del Sur) and City of Cabadbaran (Agusan del Norte) in the Philippines. PHIVOLCS advised the aftershocks are expected. It is estimated that 1.67 Million people, 394,799 households, and 12.5 billion USD of infrastructure (total replacement value) are concentrated within this radius (ASEAN DMRS).
ANALYSIS:
PHIVOLCS has released TSUNAMI WARNING #1 for this earthquake. It is expected to experience wave heights of more than one meter above the normal tides and may be higher on enclosed bays and straits. DESTRUCTIVE TSUNAMI is expected with life-threatening wave heights. It is forecasted that the first tsunami waves will arrive between 2 Dec at 1137 HRS UTC+7 to 3 Dec at 0059 HRS UTC+7 (these waves may continue for hours).
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) has release TSUNAMI WARNING. Hazardous Tsunami waves are forecast for some coast as follows:
- Tsunami waves reaching 1-3 meters above the tide level are possible along some coasts of the Philippines
- Tsunami waves 0.3-1 meters above the tide level are possible for some coast of Palau
- Tsunami waves are forecast to be less than 0.3 meters above the tide level for some coasts of Indonesia and Malaysia
PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE:
- PHIVOLCS has released TSUNAMI WARNING #1 for this earthquake. The people in the coastal areas of the provinces of Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental are STRONGLY ADVISED TO IMMEDIATELY EVACUATE TO HIGHER GROUNDS OF MOVE FARTHER INLAND.
- The Office of Civil Defense-National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (OCD-NDRRMC) closely monitor the situation.
- Continuous monitoring is being conducted by PHIVOLCS.
The AHA Centre will continue to monitor for further developments and issue necessary updates.
DATA SOURCES:
ASEAN Disaster Monitoring & Response System (DMRS); Pacific Disaster Center (PDC Global); ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC);
Philippines: NDRRMC, PHIVOLCS;
Verified news media agencies.
