Magnitude 6.2-quake hits Catanduanes waters; tsunami warning issued

Editor's note: Phivolcs has lifted the tsunami warning past midnight of April 5, Wednesday. Story on that here.

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 11:39 p.m.) — A magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit the waters off the town of Gigmoto in Catanduanes province on Tuesday night, prompting state seismologists to issue a tsunami warning to the public.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said that the epicenter of the quake was traced to 120 km southeast of Gigmoto. It struck at 8:54 p.m.

Phivolcs, in an earlier advisory, recorded it as a magnitude 6.6 quake. They have since revised this, in an advisory posted past 11:00 p.m.

In the updated information, Phivolcs also said aftershocks are to be expected, while damage due to the quake is no longer expected.

Reported intensities:

• Intensity IV - Virac, Catanduanes
• Intensity III - Prieto Diaz, and City of Sorsogon, Sorsogon; San Policarpo, Eastern Samar; Allen, Biri, Bobon, Catarman, Laoang, Lavezares, Rosario, San Jose,
• and San Roque, Northern Samar; Calbiga, and City of Catbalogan, Samar
• Intensity II - Malinao, and City of Tabaco, Albay; City of Borongan, Eastern Samar; Babatngon, Dagami, Dulag, Palo, Santa Fe, and Tanauan, Leyte; City of
• Tacloban, City of Tacloban; San Antonio, Northern Samar
• Intensity I - Alangalang, City of Baybay, and Tabontabon, Leyte

Instrumental intensities:

• Intensity II - Legazpi City, Legaspi, Albay; Daet, Camarines Norte; Sipocot, Iriga City, Pili, Camarines Sur; Kananga, Dulag, Abuyog, Leyte; San Roque, Northern Samar; Bulusan, Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon
• Intensity I - Ragay, Pasacao, Camarines Sur; Quinapondan, Eastern Samar; Palo, Alangalang, Leyte; Monreal, Uson, Masbate; Gumaca, Polillo, Mauban, Guinayangan, Quezon; Donsol, Sorsogon

Tsunami warning

In a separate advisory, state seismologists also said that they recorded minor sea-level disturbance, which means "strong currents and rapid changes of seawater level are expected."

“Based on tsunami wave models and early tide gauge records of the tsunami, it is expected to experience wave heights of less than one meter above the normal tides and may be higher on enclosed bays and straits,” it said.

Phivolcs said the first tsunami waves will arrive between 9:02 p.m. of Tuesday night, until 12:54 a.m. of Wednesday. “These waves may continue for hours,” it added.

The public is advised to be on alert for unusual waves, and are advised to stay away from the beach and not go to the coast of Catanduanes, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar.

“People whose houses are located very near the shoreline of these provinces are advised to move farther inland,” Phivolcs said.

“Owners of boats in harbors, estuaries or shallow coastal water of the above-mentioned provinces should secure their boats and move away from the waterfront. Boats already at sea during this period should stay offshore in deep waters until further advised,” it added.

No evacuation 

Local disaster officers have been instructed to "ask those living near the sea to evacuate first to higher ground," said Luis Surtida, Catanduanes provincial disaster officer.

Authorities on Samar said there had been no evacuation order for the island. 

So far, there were no reports of significant damage to buildings or infrastructure on Catanduanes, a poor farming island frequently hit by typhoons.

"It wasn't that strong to generate damage," said Prince Obo, a disaster officer in Catanduanes's Gigmoto municipality. 

Obo said he was at home when the quake struck. He waited until the building stopped shaking before joining his neighbours outside. 

"I have action figures in my cabinet which moved, but they didn't fall," he told AFP. 

Police Corporal Rodin Balcueva said the quake was "quite strong" in Pandan municipality, on the northern tip of Catanduanes.

"We hid beneath our tables," Balcueva told AFP.  — Kristine Joy Patag with reports from Agence France Presse