Magnitude 5.0 earthquake hits Masbate town; aftershocks expected

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake sways Monreal town in Masbate on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). —Photo from Phivolcs/Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 5.0 earthquake shocked a Masbate town on Tuesday evening, with aftershocks expected to occur, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

According to the state seismologist, the earthquake that occured on Tuesday, 9:01 p.m. was located west of Monreal in Masbate.

It was tectonic in origin and had a depth of focus of 25 kilometers.

READ: Twin earthquakes strike off Surigao del Sur’s Lingig town

Damages and aftershocks are expected to happen, Phivolcs said.

Phivolcs’ latest bulletin showed that intensities were raised in the following areas:

• Intensity V: Masbate City, Masbate
• Intensity IV: Monreal, Batuan, and San Fernando in Masbate
• Intensity III: Uson, Mobo, Dimasalang, and Milagros in Masbate; Tagapul-an and Almagro in Samar; and San Vicente, Northern Samar
• Intensity II: Baleno, Cataingan, Aroroy, Palanas, Mandaon, and Claveri in Masbate; Alen, Victoria, San Isidro, and Lavezares in Northern Samar
• Intensity I: Lope de Vega, Northern Samar

Meanwhile, its scale recorded the earthquake at the following instrumental intensities:

• Intensity V: City of Masbate, Masbate
• Intensity IV: Uson, Masbate
• Intensity III: Batuan, and Milagros in Masbate; Javier, Leyte
• Intensity II: Aroroy and Cataingan in Masbate; Kawayan, Biliran; City of Carcar in Cebu; and Irosin in Sorsogon
• Intensity I: Claveria, Masbate; City of Legazpi, Albay; City of Roxas, Capiz; City of Catbalogan and Gandara in Samar; Kananga and Leyte in Leyte; City of Cebu; Culaba, Biliran; and Bulusan, Sorsogon