Magnitude 6.4 earthquakes rocks Abra, felt as far as Metro Manila

Map from Phivolcs

Updated @ 8:32 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022

MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 6.4 earthquake rocked Abra on Tuesday evening, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

The magnitude of the quake was initially pegged at 6.7, but was reduced by the Phivolcs in an updated advisory released at 12:40 a.m on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Phivolcs reported that the epicenter  of the quake was pinpointed at 33 km northwest of Lagayan, Abra. It was tectonic in origin and was recorded at 10:59 pm with a depth of focus of 11 km

An aftershock was recorded at magnitude 3.1 in Lagayan town at 11:12 p.m., Phivolcs said.

The following intensity levels were then felt in the following areas:

• Intensity VI – La Paz, Abra

• Intensity V – Bangued, Boliney, Bucay, Bucloc, Daguioman, Danglas, Dolores, Lacub, Lagangilang, Lagayan, Langiden, Licuan-Baay, Luba, Malibcong,

• Manabo, Peñarrubia, Pidigan, Pilar, Sallapadan, San Isidro, San Juan, San Quintin, Tayum, Tineg, Tubo, and Villaviciosa, Abra; Conner, Apayao; La Trinidad,

• Benguet; Rizal, Kalinga; Alilem, Banayoyo, Bantay, Burgos, Cabugao, City of Candon, Cervantes, Galimuyod, Gregorio del Pilar, Lidlidda, Magsingal,

• Nagbukel, Narvacan, Quirino, Salcedo, San Emilio, San Esteban, San Ildefonso, San Juan, San Vicente, Santa, Santa Catalina, Santa Cruz, Santa Lucia, Santa

• Maria, Santiago, Santo Domingo, Sigay, Sinait, Sugpon, Suyo, Tagudin, and City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur; Bacnotan, Balaoan, Bauang, and Caba, La Union; Abulug,

• Allacapan, Amulung, Aparri, Baggao, Claveria, Lal-Lo, Lasam, Peñablanca, Tuao, and Tuguegarao City, Cagayan

• Intensity IV – Flora, Apayao; City of Baguio; Bokod, and Itogon, Benguet; City of San Fernando, and Sudipen, La Union; Enrile, Iguig, and Solana, Cagayan

• Intensity III – Laoac, City of Urdaneta, and Villasis, Pangasinan; City of Dagupan; Baler, Aurora

• Intensity II – Labrador, Pangasinan; San Manuel, Isabela

Meanwhile, the following instrumental intensities were also felt in the following areas:

• Intensity V – Gonzaga, Penablanca, Claveria, Cagayan; Pasuquin, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

• Intensity IV – Bangued, Abra

• Intensity III – Baler, Aurora; Ilagan, Isabela

• Intensity II – Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; Urdaneta, Dagupan City, Pangasinan; Madella, Quirino

• Intensity I – Dinalupihan, Bataan; Bulakan, Calumpit, Malolos City, Plaridel, Bulacan; Pasig City, Navotas City; Cabanatuan City and San Jose, Nueva Ecija;

• Guagua, Pampanga; Umingan, Sison, Bolinao, Infanta, and Bani, Pangasinan; Polillo, Mauban, and Infanta, Quezon; Tanay and Taytay, Rizal; Ramos, Tarlac; Iba, Zambales

Damage was expected, warned Phivolcs and said that the public should also remain wary of aftershocks.

Any expected damage is based on recorded intensities, according to Charm Villamil, Phivolcs senior science research specialist.

Phivolcs declares that damage is expected when recorded intensities reach VI and above.

“That’s expecting damage and may depend on other factors such as structural integrity of buildings, characteristics on the ground where these buildings are constructed, et cetera,” Villamil said.

Meanwhile, Phivolcs said the earthquake posed no tsunami threat but warned that earthquakes of this magnitude “may generate unusual sea level disturbances that may be observed along coasts near earthquake epicenter of Abra province.”

—WITH A REPORT FROM KRISTINE VALERIE DAMIAN

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