Masbate City suspends work, classes due to magnitude 6.0 earthquake
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MANILA, Philippines — The local government of Masbate City suspended work and classes in all levels on Thursday after a magnitude six earthquake struck the area.
“To ensure the safety of everyone, classes in all levels (both public and private as well as government works are hereby suspended today, February 16, 2023 at the City of Masbate,” the memorandum from the office of city Mayor Socrates Tuason said.
According to the memo, the class suspension was made to make way for the monitoring and inspection of structural buildings and offices around the area.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the earthquake occurred 10 kilometers southwest of Batuan town in Masbate at around 2:10 am with a shallow depth of 10 kilometers.
The earthquake was felt at Intensity VII in Masbate City; Intensity V in Dimasalang, San Fernando and Uson, all in Masbate province; Intensity IV in Legazpi in Albay, Aroroy, Cataingan, Esperanza, Milagros, and Pio V. Corpuz in Masbate province; Irosin and Sorsogon City in Sorsogon province; while Intensity III in Daraga in Albay province. According to the Phivolcs Earthquake Intensity Scale, an earthquake with an Intensity VII meant that it was “destructive.” At 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, the province was also jolted by a magnitude 5 earthquake. Phivolcs traced its epicenter 11 kilometers northwest of Dimasalang, Masbate. Gremil Alexis Naz, spokesperson of Office of Civil Defense Bicol, said several aftershocks were recorded after the earthquakes. According to Phivolcs’ Earthquake Information page, Masbate was hit by more than 20 aftershocks after 2:10 a.m. Thursday. Power supply was down in the entire province of Masbate on Thursday morning, while some commercial and government buildings incurred undetermined damage. Naz said around 200 patients and watchers, including the medical staff, were temporarily housed in five tents outside the Masbate Provincial Hospital. Naz said based on the initial monitoring, authorities noted cracks on the hospital building.
