Phivolcs Releases Bulletin about the Earthquake in Davao Occidental, July 18, 2026
EARTHQUAKE – The Phivolcs recorded a 5.5 magnitude quake in Davao Occidental today, July 18, 2026. Here are the details.
Following the previous strong earthquake in General Santos that was initially recorded at 7.0 magnitude, another significant quake was recently recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) in another province. According to the agency, the quake recently hit the province of Davao Occidental. It has a strong magnitude of 5.5.
The earthquake that struck Davao Occidental today, July 18, 2026, was tectonic in origin. A tectonic quake is a shaking which is a product when the Earth’s crust breaks because of the geological forces on the rocks and the adjoining plates which result to chemical and physical changes.
According to Phivolcs, the earthquake that hit a part of Davao Occidental was located at 05.37°North, 125.35°East – 010 km South 58° West of Balut Island in the Municipality Of Sarangani. It had a depth of focus of 017 kilometers.
Phivolcs stated in its bulletin that damages are not expected from the said quake neither aftershocks. According to the quake-recording bureau, the following intensities were recorded in these areas:
Intensity I
- Bagumbayan, City of Tacurong, Isulan, and Lebak, SULTAN KUDARAT; Santa Maria, DAVAO OCCIDENTAL
Intensity II
- Palimbang, SULTAN KUDARAT; City of Kidapawan and Makilala, COTABATO; Don Marcelino and Malita, DAVAO OCCIDENTAL
Intensity III
- Kiamba and Maasim, SARANGANI; Sarangani, DAVAO OCCIDENTAL
Intensity IV
- CITY OF GENERAL SANTOS; Malapatan and Glan, SARANGANI; Tupi, SOUTH COTABATO; Jose Abad Santos, DAVAO OCCIDENTAL
The following instrumental intensities were recorded in these areas:
Intensity I
- Banga, Surallah, and Santo Nino, SOUTH COTABATO
- Kalamansig, Isulan, and Lebak, SULTAN KUDARAT
- CITY OF DAVAO
Intensity II
- City of Kidapawan, COTABATO
- City of Digos and Magsaysay, DAVAO DEL SUR
- Maitum, SARANGANI
- Tampakan, SOUTH COTABATO
Intensity III
- Malungon and Kiamba, SARANGANI
- TBoli, SOUTH COTABATO
- Palimbang, SULTAN KUDARAT
- Santa Maria and Sarangani, DAVAO OCCIDENTAL
Intensity IV
- CITY OF GENERAL SANTOS
- Malapatan, SARANGANI
- Tupi, SOUTH COTABATO
Earthquakes can hardly be predicted accurately as most experts in the field agree on. Thus, most countries really make sure that they have a bureau or an organization that monitors a quake incident across their nation.
Quakes can happen in land and underwater. In the case of the latter, it can trigger tsunami thus quake-recording agencies are also often the one that monitors tsunami threats. They are the bodies releasing advisories whenever there are threats of tsunami following a strong quake shaking the land in the coastal area or underwater.
On land, quakes can result to damages and loss of lives thus it is important to be aware of the earthquake safety tips to reduce the risk of damages and loss of lives by knowing what to do.