West Valley Fault

Two earthquakes both above magnitude 5 have been reported today in the country according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

A magnitude 5.3 tremor struck some 171 kilometers southeast of Balut Island in Sarangani, Davao Occidental at 12:09 in the morning. It was tectonic in origin and had a depth of 14 kilometers.

This was followed by a magnitude 5.7 quake which hit near the town of Bangui in Ilocos Norte at 2:54 a.m. The epicenter struck 4 kilometers southwest of Bangui and had a depth of focus of 23 kilometers.

Fidel Cimatu, the town’s disaster officer described the tremor as not that strong, but the shaking lasted a bit long.

They are now checking the communities for damage.

The agency logged the following reported intensities:

Intensity V – City of Laoag, Pagudpud, Dumalneg, Burgos, Pasuquin, Bacarra, Adams, Sarrat and San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte

Intensity IV – City of Batac, Currimao, and Pinili, Ilocos Norte; Sinait, City of Vigan, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Bantay, Santa Lucia, Santa, Narvacan, San Esteban, Cabugao, San Juan, Caoayan, Magsingal, San Ildefonso, Santa Cruz, Santo Domingo, Santiago, City of Candon, and Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur; Lacub, Tayum, San Juan, La Paz, San Isidro, Pidigan, Bangued, Tubo, and Bucay, Abra; City of Baguio, Atok, and Buguias, Benguet; Besao and Bontoc, Mountain Province

Intensity III – La Trinidad, Benguet

The following recorded the instrumental intensities:

Intensity V – City of Laoag and Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte

Intensity IV – City of Batac and San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte; Sinait and City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur; Gonzaga, Cagayan

Intensity III – Bontoc, Mountain Province
Intensity II – Peñablanca, Cagayan; Bangued, Abra

Damage and aftershocks are expected from the Ilocos Norte quake.

Source: PTVNews, BusinessWorldOnline, Phivolcs