Magnitude 4.2 quake rocks Siquijor town

CEBU, Philippines - Maria town of Siquijor province was the epicenter of a magnitude-4.2 earthquake that struck at 11:10p.m. Tuesday, according to the report of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

The earthquake was centered about five kilometers south-east from the coast of Maria, facing the villages of Candaping B, Nabutay and Liloan.

As of press time, initial assessment conducted by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council noted neither fatality nor damage to property in the affected area.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Blezela Mae Omictin of PDRRMC said townfolk, together with authorities, are now on alert for possible abnormal movement of the seawaters around the island.

Omictin said authorities have been monitoring for any aftershocks and, even if there has been confirmation about an impending tsunami, "people in the coastal areas should be warned."

Residents Ugen Balac, Ronalyn Bacayan and Noralyn Daniel said they were frightened when the quake struck because they were already sleeping with their families at the time.

Last January 15, the town of Enrique Villanueva, also in Siquijor, was the epicenter of a magnitude-2.5 earthquake that occured at 11:56 p.m. then. (FREEMAN)