Quake jolts Masbate

An intensity 5 tectonic earthquake hits Aroroy, Masbate at exactly 1:06 yesterday afternoon, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Phivolcs said the quake, which registered a magnitude 4.7 on the Richter Scale, was triggered by movement of the Sibuyan segment of the Philippine Fault Zone that traverses the Philippines from Luzon to Mindanao.

Ed Laguerta, Phivolcs resident volcanologist, said the temblor lasted only a few minutes and was detected by seismic instruments at 12.74 north, 123.09 east and 69 kilometers north, 53 kms. west of the island province of Masbate.

Laguerta said the earthquake had a shallow depth of focus of 14.9 kms.

According to Phivolcs, the 1:06 p.m. quake was also felt at Intensity 4 in Naga City, at Intensity 3 in Guinayangan, Quezon and Legazpi City and at Intensity 2 in Irosin, Sorsogon.

Phivolcs said the tremor did not cause any damage but aftershocks are expected to follow. — Felix delos Santos, Celso Amo