MANILA, Philippines - An earthquake with 6.1 magnitude jolted parts of Batanes province before dawn yesterday, but state seismologists said there were no reports of damage or injuries.
Renato Solidum, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said the tremor occurred at 4:20 a.m. with its epicenter traced at 40 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes.
It was felt at Intensity 5 in the towns of Basco, Itbayat, Mahatao and Ivana; and Intensity 4 in Sabtang and Uyugan towns.
Solidum said no tsunami alert was raised following the strong quake, as the tremor “was not capable of generating a tsunami.â€
Meanwhile, Solidum said two aftershocks of magnitude 4.8 and 4.9 occurred at 4:59 a.m. and 6:53 a.m., respectively, and were both felt at Intensity 4 in Basco, the capital town.
He said the quake was caused by a movement along the submarine fault in the area.
“Some aftershocks are still possible,†he warned. – With Raymund Catindig, Charlie Lagasca