Phivolcs Reports Magnitude 4.2 Aftershock Off Balut Island, Davao Occidental, Recorded at Intensity I in Sarangani on November 8, 2026
EARTHQUAKE – A magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck off Balut Island in Davao Occidental early Sunday morning, November 8, 2026, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The agency identified the tremor as an aftershock of the June 2026 offshore Sarangani and Davao Occidental earthquakes. Here are the details.
Based on Earthquake Information No. 2 released by Phivolcs, the tremor was recorded at 3:34 in the morning. Its epicenter was located at 05.49°N, 125.26°E, or about 20 kilometers North 64° West of Balut Island in the Municipality of Sarangani, Davao Occidental.
The quake was tectonic in origin and had a shallow depth of focus of 10 kilometers. Phivolcs measured it at magnitude 4.2 (Ms).
Instrumental Intensities
Phivolcs did not list community-reported intensities for the event. It recorded the following instrumental intensities:
- Intensity I – Malapatan, Maasim, and Alabel, Sarangani
Aftershock of the June 2026 Sarangani Earthquakes
Phivolcs said Sunday’s tremor is an aftershock of the June 2026 magnitude 7.8 (Mw) offshore Sarangani earthquake and the magnitude 6.5 (Mw) offshore Davao Occidental earthquake. Those larger events struck in June 2026 and have been followed by many smaller aftershocks in the same offshore area.
Phivolcs said it does not expect damage nor aftershocks from the said magnitude 4.2 quake. The bulletin was issued at 4:20 a.m. on November 8, 2026. The agency added that this would be the only bulletin issued for the event unless additional information becomes available.
Other Quakes Recorded Near Balut Island
The magnitude 4.2 tremor is among several earthquakes that the Phivolcs latest earthquake list has logged around Balut Island and Sarangani Island. Among them are:
- Magnitude 3.4 – November 7, 11:05 PM, 7 km North 38° West of Balut Island
- Magnitude 2.4 – November 8, 4:49 AM, 12 km North 47° West of Sarangani Island
- Magnitude 2.2 – November 8, 6:10 AM, 24 km North 49° West of Sarangani Island
- Magnitude 1.7 – November 8, 5:20 AM, 20 km South 56° West of Balut Island
In October, a magnitude 4.0 earthquake also hit Davao Occidental.
A tectonic earthquake happens when rocks in the Earth’s crust suddenly break and move along a fault because of the stress that builds up between them. The Philippines experiences many of these because it sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and has numerous active faults and trenches.
Earthquakes cannot be accurately predicted, which is why agencies like Phivolcs continuously monitor seismic activity across the country and issue advisories when needed.
To stay safe, it is important to know what to do before, during and after a quake. Have you read these earthquake safety tips?
