Quake disturbs Itbayat, Batanes anew

The Itbayat Church sustains damage after Batanes was hit by a 5.4 magnitude earthquake before dawn Saturday. (Photos by Dominic De Sagon Asa)

MANILA, Philippines – A magnitude 4.0 earthquake shook Itbayat,  Batanes Thursday morning, days after it was jolted by a killer quake that claimed nine lives and damaged numerous houses and structures.

READ: Death toll from Batanes twin quakes rises to 9

“This is an aftershock of the July 27, 2019 Batanes events,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in its latest bulletin.

READ: (UPDATE) 5.3 magnitude quake jolts Batanes

Phivolcs added that the latest earthquake, recorded at 3:20a.m.,  had a depth of 17 kilometers and was felt at intensity IV in Itbayat.

A tsunami or tidal wave is not likely, Phivolcs added.

President Rodrigo Duterte goes on an aerial inspection of earthquake-affected sites in Itbayat, Batanes on Sunday, July 28, 2019. With him are Sen. Christopher Go and Batanes Gov. Marilou Cayco. (Photo from the Office of Sen. Christopher Go)

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Council (NDRRMC) said that over 230 aftershocks have been recorded in the area after the July 27 earthquake.

Damage to property in Itbayat so far was pegged at P47 million. /gsg

READ: 230 aftershocks recorded after Batanes quake

READ: Batanes quake damage estimated at P47 million