Magnitude 6.9 quake rocks Visayas, Kalibo felt quake at intensity 4 BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL The earthquake, measuring 6.9 magnitude, formed cracks on the road in Negros Oriental / PHOTO BY Hulagway ug Kasikas sa Dumaguete KALIBO, Aklan – A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 jolted parts of Visayas before noon on Monday, killing at least 50 persons, mostly in Negros Oriental. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismologys (Phivolcs) said the strong earthquake hit at 11:49 a.m. which its epicenter traced between the islands of Negros and Cebu. The quake was tectonic in origin, which means the tremor was triggered by the movement of the earth’s crust, off 10 kilometers northwest of Tayasan, Negros Oriental. The town of Kalibo felt the earthquake at Intensity 4. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damages in Aklan. The Earthquake Intensity scale of Philvocs defines Intensity 4 as Moderately Strong. “Felt generally by people indoors and by some people outdoors. Light sleepers are awakened. Vibration is felt like a passing of heavy truck. Hanging objects swing considerably. Dinner, plates, glasses, windows and doors rattle. Floors and walls of wood framed buildings creak. Standing motor cars may rock slightly. Liquids in containers are slightly disturbed. Water in containers oscillate strongly. Rumbling sound may sometimes be heard,” it said. According to Philvocs director Renato Solidum, ”over 240 aftershocks were recorded so far. The larger the magnitude, usually the longer the duration of aftershocks. Aftershocks from the 6.9 quake that struck Visayas will persist for a week or so.” The earthquake was strongly felt at intensity 7 in Dumaguete City and Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental and intensity 6 in La Carlota City and La Castellana, Negros Occidental and Argao in Cebu. Intensity 5 was felt in Roxas City, Dao and Ivisan, Capiz; Iloilo City; Ayungon, Negros Oriental; Kanlaon City; Lapu-Lapu City; Guimaras; Cebu City; San Carlos City; Bacolod City; Sagay City; Tagbilaran City and Candoni, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental. Intensity 4 was recorded in San Jose de Buenavista, Pandan, Anin-y, Patnugon, Antique; Sipalay, Negros Occidental and Dipolog City, Ormoc City and Intensity 3 was felt in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte; Legazpi City, Albay; Carmen, Cagayan de Oro; Tacloban City; Catbalogan; Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte; Masbate, Masbate and Cagayan de Oro City. Intensity 2 was felt in Cabid-an, Sorsogon; Borongan, Eastern Samar; Mambajao, Camiguin and Intensity 1 in Pagadian City. NDRRMC update Majority of the casualties died in a landslide in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental and hundreds were reportedly injured, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said. As of 5 p.m. NDRRMC update, five cottages in Comendador Beach resort were wiped out due to sudden rise in water and 20 residential houses were damaged in La Libertad, Negros Oriental. Some government offices and commercial buildings, bridges, churches, roads, schools and houses also sustained cracks and damage in various areas hit by the quake. “No further reports of unusual sea level changes were received after the two hour extended observation period. Hence, tsunami alerts for the Philippines are cancelled,” NDRRMC said. Evacuation operations were initiated in Moalboal (southwest of Cebu) in the barangays of Saavedra, Basdiot, Poblacion West and East, Tuble, Tomonoy, and Balabagon. The displaced population were taken to Barangay Bugho in Moalboal. Meanwhile, the United States Geological Survey website measured the latest quake at 6.7 magnitude, 72 kilometers north of Dumaguete City of Negros Oriental and hit at a depth of 46.6 kilometers.
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 08:31:57 +0000
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