A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit the waters southeast of Mindanao on Thursday night, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in a bulletin.

The quake was felt strongly in General Santos City, where Intensity V was recorded by Phivolcs. The earthquake occurred at around 8:23 p.m.

According to a bulletin from the agency, the epicenter of the quake was 231 kilometers southeast of Jose Abad Santos town in Davao Occidental.

Intensity IV was recorded in Davao City, and Intensity II in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, the agency added.

Also, instrumental intensities were also felt in the following areas: Intensity V, Kiamba in Sarangani; Intensity IV, Alabel in Sarangani and Koronadal City in South Cotabato; Intensity III, Kidapawan City and Bislig City in Surigao del Sur, and Gingoog in Misamis Oriental; and Intensity II, Cagayan de Oro City, Surigao City in Surigao del Norte, and Borongan City in Eastern Samar.

Phivolcs recorded no other earthquake beyond magnitude 4.0 in other parts of the country as of Thursday night. CURRENTPH