Magnitude 5.4 quake hits Zamboanga del Norte

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A magnitude 5.4 quake hit Zamboanga del Norte before noon yesterday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. 

Phivolcs warned of possible damage and aftershocks due to the quake.

The epicenter of the tremor was traced 36 kilometers northwest of Baliguian town.

Phivolcs regional field officer Allan Rommel Labayog said the quake was felt in Siocon at Intensity 5, which is classified as strong.

The tremor was felt at Intensity 4 here and in Liloy, Intensity 3 in Sindangan and Labason and Intensity 2 in Dipolog City, all in Zamboanga del Norte.

Classes in some public schools in Liloy were suspended due to the quake. 

At around 1 a.m. also yesterday, a quake with a magnitude of 2.5 struck 10 kms southwest of Pitogo, Zamboanga del Sur. 

On Saturday, a magnitude 3.3 tremor hit Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Labayog said the quakes, which were tectonic in origin, could be due to the movement of the Cotabato trench. – Helen Flores