Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 16) — A magnitude 6 earthquake and strong aftershocks jolted Masbate early Thursday morning, state seismologists reported.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) initially reported it was a magnitude 5.7 quake, but it was upgraded to magnitude 6. In the capital City of Masbate, it was reported at intensity 7.
(Note: Magnitude refers to the size of the earthquake, while intensity refers to degree of shaking at a given place.)
In its advisory, Phivolcs said the tectonic temblor occurred at 2:10 a.m. with a depth of 10 kilometers in Batuan, Masbate.
The agency said the movement of the Philippine Fault-Masbate segment caused the quake. It last moved in 2020, triggering a magnitude 6.6 earthquake in the area.
Phivolcs reported the following intensities.
Intensity VII – City of Masbate, Masbate
Intensity V – Dimasalang, San Fernando, and Uson, Masbate
Intensity IV – City of Legazpi, Albay; Aroroy, Cataingan, Esperanza, Milagros, and Pio V. Corpuz, Masbate; Irosin, and City of Sorsogon, Sorsogon
Intensity III – Daraga, Albay
Multiple aftershocks ranging from magnitudes 3 to 4 were also reported. Phivolcs warned that damage is expected.
Speaking to CNN Philippines, Adonis Dilao, head of the Masbate Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the quake caused houses and electric wires to shake, prompting terrified residents to camp outside of their homes.
Prior to this, Dilao noted that tremors were being felt in the area since Wednesday, with the strongest one registered at magnitude 4.5 at 5:15 p.m.
Local officials are still assessing the damage, but some buildings in Masbate City sustained cracks due to the shaking felt on Wednesday, Dilao noted.
Residents were also evacuated, specifically those living near the sea, he added.
In a separate briefing, Office of Civil Defense Joint Information Center head Diego Agustin Mariano said they have not received reports of major damage or casualties so far, adding there has been more than 70 recorded aftershocks, but less than five were felt.
The OCD said help has already been distributed by local government units to those affected, particularly patients who had to be evacuated from the Masbate Provincial Hospital.
“Yun kasi ang SOP (standard operating procedure) nila — pag may lindol, ilalabas muna bago pumasok dahil iche-check muna,” said Mariano.
[Translation: That is the SOP — in the case of earthquakes, patients are taken outside, then the structure is checked before they can be allowed back in.]
Help has been distributed in the form of tents and blankets, but Mariano said additional assistance is needed.
