Classes, work suspended in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur after 6.4 magnitude tremor

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — Classes and work in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur provinces were suspended on Wednesday, Oct. 26, after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Abra province on Tuesday night, Oct. 25.

In an announcement on social media, Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc on Wednesday suspended classes at all levels, in public and private schools, and work in government offices in the province to assess the damage after the tremor recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) at 10:59 p.m.

Manotoc encouraged private companies to “take all precautionary measures to ensure the safety of their personnel.”

The Ilocos Norte disaster risk reduction and management office, meanwhile, said they were on alert and asked towns and cities to “constantly monitor their areas of responsibility.”

In Ilocos Sur, work in both public and private offices on Wednesday was also suspended as a safety measure after the intense earthquake, according to an executive order issued by Gov. Jeremias Singson.

Singson’s declaration was followed by a clarification on the provincial government’s Facebook page saying: “Update: No work in all public and private sectors in the province means no teachers going to work, and yes, students, it’s #WalangPasok. Stay safe every one!”

Singson also ordered all local governments to conduct necessary evacuation in coastal communities, and assess the damage in their areas, and ensure public safety.

The quake occurred some seven kilometers northwest of Tineg town at a depth of 28 kilometers, according to Phivolcs.

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