Quakes jolt Luzon, Mindanao areas

MANILA, Philippines — Earthquakes of magnitudes 4, 4.5 and 5 jolted areas in Tarlac, Bukidnon and Surigao del Sur, respectively, yesterday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Phivolcs said the magnitude 4 quake occurred at 12:44 p.m. and its epicenter was located 12 kilometers south of Mayantoc town in Tarlac.

The temblor was felt at Intensity 1 in nearby Cabangan town in Zambales and Dagupan, Pangasinan.

State seismologists said the quake was not expected to generate aftershocks or cause damage to property.

Meanwhile, the magnitude 4.3 quake occurred at 10:12 a.m. some 13 kilometers north of Quezon in Bukidnon.

Instrumental Intensity 3 was recorded in nearby San Fernando town.

The magnitude 5 temblor occurred at 05:16 a.m. some 31 kilometers north of Lingig, Surigao del Sur.

Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said the quake was an aftershock of the magnitude-7.4 temblor that hit the province in December.

“Aftershocks persist as the magnitude (of the earthquake) was high at 7.4,” Bacolcol said, adding there have been at least 9,129 aftershocks from the strong earthquake since last year.

“We expect more aftershocks, but it will decrease in number and intensity,” he said.

State seismologists said the three quakes were tectonic in origin.