Magnitude 5.6 quake jolts Ilocos Norte

MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 5.6 earthquake rocked Ilocos Norte yesterday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Phivolcs said the temblor was tectonic in origin and occurred at 10:56 a.m. yesterday with a depth of focus of 15 kilometers. Its epicenter was located at 48 km north of Burgos town in Ilocos Norte.

State seismologists initially reported the temblor as magnitude 5.8 before downgrading it to magnitude 5.6.

According to Phivolcs, Intensity 5 was felt in Sinait and Cabugao towns in Ilocos Sur and in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte; Intensity 4 in Claveria, Cagayan and Tubo, Abra; Intensity 3 in Lacub, Abra; and Intensity 2 in Aparri and Lasam, Cagayan.

Meanwhile, instrumental intensity 5 was recorded in San Nicholas, Ilocos Norte; instrumental intensity 4 in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur; instrumental intensity 3 in Gonzaga, Cagayan; instrumental intensity 2 in Peñablanca, Cagayan; Bangued, Abra and Bontoc, Mountain Province; and instrumental intensity 1 in Candon and Narvacan, Ilocos Sur.

Phivolcs said that damage and aftershocks are expected amid the strong earthquake.