Magnitude 6.4 Earthquake Strikes Off Davao Occidental — General Santos Suspends All Classes and Government Operations

📌 On Thursday, October 8, at 4:07 PM, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Davao Occidental province in Mindanao. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) stated that it was an aftershock of the magnitude 7.8 and 6.5 earthquakes last June. The City of General Santos suspended all grade-level classes and government operations to begin building safety inspections. As of the initial reports, there are no reports of damage.

■ Earthquake Details
· Epicenter: Offshore, 42 km from Balut Island, Sarangani municipality, Davao Occidental province, at a depth of 10 km — direction varies by report (southwest according to GMA, south according to Inquirer)
· Intensity 4: Alabel and Malapatan in Sarangani province; T'Boli and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato province; General Santos City; Palimbang in Sultan Kudarat province
· Intensity 3: Kidapawan City in Cotabato province; Digos City in Davao del Sur province; etc.
· PHIVOLCS stated that no damage is expected, but aftershocks may continue.

■ What Changes
· General Santos City has suspended classes for all grade levels in all public and private schools on the 8th until further notice.
· Government operations have also been halted. The city stated this is to conduct structural inspections and safety assessments of public buildings.
· This body of water has been experiencing ongoing aftershocks following the magnitude 7.8 (off Sarangani) and 6.5 (off Davao Occidental) earthquakes last June.

■ Tips for Residents and Travelers
· If you are staying in or planning to visit General Santos, Sarangani, or South Cotabato, check city and provincial disaster management office announcements to see if classes and government offices have resumed.
· In preparation for aftershocks, check the building you are staying in for cracks, and if you feel shaking, take cover under a sturdy table.

■ Sources
GMA News (10/8), Inquirer (10/8)