5.6-magnitude tremor rocks Ilocos Norte

LAOAG CITY—A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck the northern tip of Ilocos Norte on Sunday morning, sending residents of this capital city out of their homes due to ground shaking.

No earthquake-related damage or casualty was reported but the tremor, which hit at 11:14 a.m., was so strong that Laoag residents rushed out of their houses for fear of being hit by falling objects.

Residents said the ground shaking lasted for about a minute.

A bulletin issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) showed that the quake’s epicenter was 30 kilometers northeast of Pagudpud town, some 55 km from here.

It was felt at Intensity 5 in Sarrat town; Intensity 4 in Batac City in Ilocos Norte, Buguey and Camiguin Island in Cagayan, and Sinait in Ilocos Sur; Intensity 3 in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan, and Intensity 2 in Burgos in Ilocos Sur and Baguio City.  Cristina Arzadon, Inquirer Northern Luzon