Strong quake jolts Masbate

A MAGNITUDE 6.0 earthquake jolted the island province of Masbate at 2:10 a.m. Thursday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

The epicenter of the quake was located 11 kilometers southwest of Batuan town. It had a depth of 10 km, Phivolcs chief Teresito “Toto” Bacolcol said.

“Damage to property and aftershocks are possible from this latest tremor,” Bacolcol told The Manila Times.

Work and classes were suspended in Masbate.

The quake registered Intensity 7 in Masbate City and Intensity 5 in the towns of Dimasalang, San Fernando and Uson.

In was Intensity 4 in Legazpi City, Albay; Aroroy, Cataingan, Esperanza, Milagros and Pio V. Corpuz, Masbate; Irosin and Sorsogon City, Sorsogon; and Intensity 3 in Daraga, Albay.

Phivolcs' instrument-based data recorded the tremor at Intensity 6 in Masbate City, Intensity 4 in Bulusan and Sorsogon City; and Bogo, Cebu, Intensity 3 in Legazpi City and Tabaco City, Albay; Iriga City, Camarines Sur; Bago City, Negros Occidental; Alangalang, Calubian, Isabel, Kananga and Palo, Leyte; Ormoc City; and Rosario, Northern Samar.

Intensity 2 was recorded in Gumaca, Quezon; Daet, Camarines Norte; Ragay, Camarines Sur; Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon; Malinao, Aklan; Jamindan and Tapaz, Capiz; Argao, Cebu; Can-Avid, Eastern Samar; Abuyog and Dulag, Leyte; and San Roque, Northern Samar, while the quake was Intensity 1 in Lopez, Mulanay, and Polillo, Quezon; Boac, Marinduque; Pandan, Antique; City of La Carlota, Negros Occidental; and Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte.

An earlier quake, registering magnitude 5, shook Masbate Wednesday afternoon.

Its epicenter was near Dimasalang town.

Bacolcol said damage from the Thursday tremor was not extensive because it was a “shallow earthquake.”

“So far we have not received reports of casualties, although there were cracks from the walls of some houses and a falling glass wall from a hotel,” he said.

The 6.0 magnitude quake or “mainshock” was preceded by the Dimasalang quake or “foreshock,” Phivolcs said.

Foreshocks are earthquakes that precede larger earthquakes (mainshock) in the same location.

The two Masbate tremors were caused by movement along the Philippine Fault-Masbate Segment that has been the source1 of large earthquakes, including the magnitude 6.6 tremor in 2020 and the magnitude 6.2 quakes in 2003.

As of 1 p.m. Thursday, Phivolcs recorded a total of 135 aftershocks, 16 of which were felt by residents with magnitude ranges from 1.5 to 4.2.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Masbate said two houses were destroyed by the Thursday quake, and 59 sustained damage.

A total of 15 schools were damaged in Uson and Batuan towns.

Masbate City Mayor Socrates Tuason suspended all classes and work in government offices.

Gremil Alexis Naz, OCD Bicol regional spokesman, said the Masbate Provincial Hospital evacuated about 200 patients and their watchers after damage assessment teams noted cracks on the hospital walls.

The Batang Integrated School in Irosin, Sorsogon also suspended its classes on Feb. 16, 2023, following the minor damages incurred.

Authorities also reported that part of Canvanes Road in Batuan, Masbate, was damaged by the earthquake, leaving only one lane passable.

The Department of Health office in Bicol is preparing to send P100,000 worth of assorted medicines, 300 jerry cans, 50 hygiene kits, and 50 cot beds to Masbate.

OCD spokesman Raffy Alejandro 4th said power was out in the entire province of Masbate and Ticao Island.

There were also “falling debris from the ceiling at Magallanes Coliseum in Masbate City and cracks in other buildings,” Alejandro said.