Earthquake damages town hall of Maripipi, Biliran province

TACLOBAN CITY –– The municipal hall of Maripipi in Biliran province sustained damage after the magnitude 5.0 quake that hit Pio V. Corpuz town in Masbate on Sunday, Nov. 15.

Mayor Joseph Caingcoy said the earthquake left big cracks in various offices of the municipal hall, including his own office.

The municipal hall, which was built in 1961, was subsequently declared uninhabitable.

Caingcoy holds office at his residence, while government employees work at the municipal gymnasium.

A new municipal hall has been constructed and is expected to be completed by next year.

Maripipi, an island town of Biliran, felt the quake at Intensity 4.

On Monday, the town was rocked by another earthquake, as reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

The first quake, with a magnitude of 2.7, was felt at 3:22 a.m.

Another quake, with a magnitude of 3.6, hit the town at 8:34 a.m.

Ecole Gaviola, secretary of the town mayor, said Monday’s quakes did not cause any damage reported.

“But the people here were still shocked because of last Sunday’s earthquake. It was really strong, and now we have another quake this morning,” he said.

ZB