Celebes Sea: Magnitude-5.7 offshore earthquake occurs in Celebes Sea off southern Mindanao at around 0800 PHST Feb. 8

Event

A magnitude-5.7 offshore earthquake occurred in the Celebes Sea, south of southern Mindanao, Philippines, at around 0800 PHST Feb. 8. The epicenter was approximately 215 km (134 miles) east-southeast of General Santos City, Philippines. The tremor occurred at a depth of around 61 km (38 miles). The earthquake may have caused weak-to-light shaking in Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Sarangani, and South Cotabato provinces in southern Mindanao, Philippines, as well as Karakelong and Sangihe islands, Talaud Islands Regency, North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are possible over the coming days. The incident has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Consider vacating multistory buildings if operating in affected areas until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.