LEGAZPI CITY, ALBAY, Philippines — A magnitude 5 earthquake hits Monreal town in Masbate province Tuesday night (Aug. 27), according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) adding that aftershocks may occur.
In a bulletin, Phivolcs said the center of the quake, which was recorded at 9:01 p.m. and was tectonic in origin, was located 9 kilometers southwest of Monreal, a town in the Masbate’s Ticao Island.
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The depth of the quake was at 25 kilometers, Phivolcs said.
It was felt at Intensity V in Masbate City in mainland Masbate; Intensity IV in Monreal, San Fernando, and Batuan, all in Ticao Island; Intensity III in Uson, Mobo, Dimasalang, and Milagros in the mainland province and some parts of Samar and Northern Samar; and Intensity II in the Masbate towns of Baleno, Cataingan, Aroroy, Palanas, Mandaon, and Claveria.
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, Phivolcs’ 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 —with a report from Dianne Raine U. Sampang