Magnitude 6.6 quake rocks Masbate

MANILA, Philippines (Update 2: 10:23 a.m.) — A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Masbate province and was felt in parts of Luzon and Visayas Tuesday morning, state seismologists said. 

In an earlier bulletin, Phivolcs reported a magnitude 6.5 earthquake. It upgraded the strength of the quake to magnitude 6.6.

The epicenter of the earthquake—tectonic in origin—was located seven kilometers southwest of Cataingan town. It jolted the area at around 8:03 a.m.

In an interview on Teleradyo, Phivolcs head Renato Solidum said the earthquake was caused by a movement in the Masbate segment of the Philippine fault. 

The reported intensities were the following: 
•    Intensity VII (Destructive) - Cataingan, Masbate
•    Intensity V (strong)  - City of Masbate, Masbate; Almagro, and Tagapul-an, Samar;
•    Intensity IV (moderately strong) - Palanas, and San Jacinto, Masbate; City of Sorsogon, Sorsogon; City of Legazpi, Albay; San Andres, Quezon; Mapanas, and Palapag, Northern Samar; Barugo, Dagami, Dulag, Julita, La Paz, Palo, and Tanauan, Leyte; City of Sagay, Negros Occidental
•    Intensity III (weak)- City of Baybay, Isabel, Javier, and Kananga, Leyte; Ormoc City; Mulanay, Quezon; City of Iloilo
•    Intensity II (slightly felt) - Guinayangan and Lopez, Quezon; President Roxas, Capiz; Patnongon, Patnongon, San Jose de Buenavista, and Tibiao, Antique
•    Intensity I (scarcely perceptible) - Lezo, Aklan; City of Dumaguete, Negros Oriental

Phivolcs said that in Intensity VII, heavy objects and furniture overturn or topple or old or poorly-built structures suffer considerable damage. Intensity V is generally felt by most people indoors and outdoors, while Intensity IV is felt generally by people indoors and by some people outdoors. 

The following instrumental intensities were also recorded:
•    Intensity V (strong) - Masbate City, Masbate
•    Intensity IV (moderately strong) - Palo, Leyte; City of Iloilo; City of Roxas, Capiz; Naval, Biliran;
•    Intensity III (weak) - City of Bago, Negros Occidental; Malinao, Aklan; Pandan, Antique; Jamindan, Capiz; Ormoc City
•    Intensity II (slightly felt) - Gumaca, Quezon; San Jose de Buenavista, Antique; City of Sipalay, Negros Occidental; Valderrama, Antique; Sipocot, Camarines Sur; Talibon,
Bohol; San Francisco, Cebu
•    Intensity I (scarcely perceptible) - Malay, Aklan; City of Gingoog, Misamis Oriental

Damage, aftershocks

Phivolcs said aftershocks are expected. 

“May aftershocks na maliliit na nararamdaman, even as far as Albay inaasahan natin ‘yan,” Solidum said. 

The magnitude 6.5 earthquake also spawned damage.

Mark Timbal, spokesperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, said “houses made of light materials sustained some damage in Palanas, Masbate,” citing reports from Office of Civil Defense Bicol region.