Earthquakes hit Cebu, Surigao del Norte

MANILA, Philippines—Two separate earthquakes jolted the provinces of Cebu and Surigao del Norte in southern Philippines on Monday.

Cebu in the Visayas was hit by a 4.5-magnitude earthquake at 9:19 a.m. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), its epicenter was located 48 kilometers northeast of Mandaue City.

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

While no aftershock was expected from the Cebu quake, another one was experienced in Surigao del Norte in Northern Mindanao on Monday noon.

The 5.5-magnitude quake was recorded at 12:41 p.m. and its epicenter was identified at 101 kilometers northeast of General Luna town, Surigao del Norte province, according to a bulletin released by Phivolcs.

The tectonic tremor was felt at Intensity I in Surigao City.

Phivolcs said that no damages were expected from both earthquakes.

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