9 hurt in Masbate quakes

MANILA, Philippines - Two strong quakes struck parts of Bicol region this morning, injuring at least nine people and sending others rushing outside in panic, officials said.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismolgy said the first quake, which was tectonic in origin, struck 7:06 a.m., three kilometers north of Masbate City in Masbate province.

It measured magnitude 5.2 in the Richter scale.

The quake was felt at Intensity 6 in Masbate City, Intensity 4 in Irosin and Cabid-an towns in Sorsogon City and Intensity 2 in Legaspi City.

The quake caused an abandoned three-story building in Masbate City to collapse and shattered glass windows in houses and other buildings, at least two of which were cleared of people and cordoned off by police while government engineers checked their stability. Large numbers of people rushed out of homes, offices, hospitals and schools and stayed in the streets as a number of aftershocks rattled nerves after the quake.

Seven minutes after, another quake struck Masbate City in almost the same spot. The quake measured magnitude 3.7. It was felt at Intensity 5 in Masbate City and Intensity 2 in Roxas City.

Intensity is described in the Phivolcs' Intensity Scale as "very strong."

It said that in an Intensity 6 eartquake, "many people are frightened, many run outdoors. Some people lose their balance. Motorists feel like driving with flat tires."

Masbate City Mayor Socrates Tuason said in a television news interview that several buildings in the city showed cracks after the eartquake.

Tuason said he has yet to receive reports of casualties from the earthquake.

Following the eartquakes, morning classes in Masbate City were suspended.

Masbate Vice Governor Vince Revil announced over national television that all morning classes in the city were immediately suspended after the 5.2-magnitude quake struck at past 7 a.m.

Revil said it was still uncertain if classes will resume at noon. He said local authorities are assessing the situation in areas hit by the quakes.

The earthquakes came a month after 58 people died in a quake in the Western Visayas.