31 aftershocks recorded since Masbate quake

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 31 aftershocks were recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) following the magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck Masbate province on Tuesday.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said three aftershocks with magnitude of 2.4, 3.0, and 2.9 were recorded yesterday at 2:34 a.m., 7:29 a.m. and 8:01 a.m., respectively.

The quakes were slightly felt at Intensity 2 and 3 in Masbate City.

Phivolcs said more aftershocks are expected to occur in the next few days.

The magnitude 5.2 earthquake in Masbate left 10 people injured, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The NDRRMC said minor structural damage and power interruption were also reported in some parts of Masbate City.

The Masbate quake was generated by a movement along the Philippine fault zone, Phivolcs said.

The 1,200-kilometer Philippine fault zone is a major tectonic feature that transects the whole Philippine archipelago from northwestern Luzon to southeastern Mindanao.

It has been the source of large-magnitude earthquakes in recent years, such as the 1973 Ragay Gulf earthquake (magnitude 7.0), 1990 Luzon earthquake (magnitude 7.7), and 2003 Masbate earthquake (magnitude 6.2).   – With Alexis Romero