2 quakes hit Ilocos Norte Sunday morning

MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 5.3 earthquake and one with a magnitude of 4.3 hit offshore of the province of Ilocos Norte early Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

A Phivolcs report showed that the first quake struck at 3:46 a.m. and its epicenter was traced 52 kilometers (km) northwest of the town of Burgos.

Intensity IV was felt in Laoag City and the town of Pasuquin in Ilocos Norte.

The quake was felt at Intensity III in Vigan City, Gonzaga, Cagayan; Badoc, Ilocos Norte; and in the towns of Bantay, Magsingal, San Ildefonso, Santo Domingo and Sinait, all in the province of Ilocos Sur

The tremor had a depth of focus of 22 km and was tectonic in origin.

Phivolcs said that no damage and aftershocks could be expected.

Nevertheless, the second quake hit the same general area about three minutes later at 3:49 a.m. /cbb