Magnitude 4.5 quake jolts Cebu

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake hit the province of Cebu Monday morning and no aftershocks were expected, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

The earthquake was recorded at 9:19 a.m. and its epicenter was located 48 kilometers northeast of Mandaue City, according to the bulletin issued by Phivolcs.

The tremor was felt at Intensity IV at Cebu City and Mandaue City; Intensity III at Talisay City; Intensity II at Lapu-Lapu City, and Intensity I at Bogo City and Ormoc City, Leyte province.

The earthquake originated from an existing fault line on coastal waters about 50 kilometers off Mandaue City, close to Camotes Island, Phivolcs said.

“The earthquake nag-simula sa dagat pero walang movement ng tubig dahil masyadong lang maliit and lindol (The earthquake started in the sea, but there was no movement in the water because the earthquake was quite small),” said Phivolcs director Renato Solidum Jr.

Solidum said the mild earthquake originated from a different fault line and is not part of the aftershocks from last year’s earthquake which hit the provinces of Cebu and Bohol.

“Marami ang malilit na fault lines (There are several small fault lines). This is one was created by a local fault line,” he added.

The earthquake created initial panic on those who felt it.

Children who were playing in Sitio Sudlon in barangay Alang Alang in Mandaue City rushed home, while teachers gathering for a convention at the Dep Ed Ecotech in Sudlon Lahug also felt the shaking but stayed in place.

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