One died and 25 others injured when a powerful 5.9 aftershock hit Surigao which was still reeling from the effects of a major earthquake last month that claimed the lives of eight people.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs)traced the epicenter of the quake about 13 kilometers southwest of Surigao del Norte’s capital at 08:08 a.m. yesterday. It was tectonic in origin and stemmed from a depth of 13 kilometers.
Residents in Surigao City bore its brunt at Intensity VI, Phivolcs said. Its impact also reached several areas in Southern Leyte including the municipalities of Limasawa and San Ricardo at Intensity IV and the towns of San Juan and San Francisco at Intensity III.
General Luna, Surigao del Norte and Ormoc City, Leyte also felt the quake at Intensity II. Instrumental intensities were likewise noted in Surigao City at Intensity VII while Intensity I was registered in both Borongan, Eastern Samar and Palo, Leyte.
Shortly after, state seismologists reported that lighter aftershocks occurred in succession in the towns of Del Carmen and Basilisa also in the province of Surigao del Norte. They were measured at magnitudes 2.6 and 3.0 respectively with instrumental intensities in Surigao City.
“As of this time, our ground engineers and officers and personnel of our rapid assessment teams, accompanied by our quick response and rescue teams are still on ground assessing the damage,” said Surigao del Norte governor Sol F. Matugas. According to Phivolcs science aide Anne de los Santos, the tremors were all considered aftershocks of the magnitude-6.7 earthquake in Surigao del Norte last February 10, which was triggered by a seismic movement along the Surigao segment of the Philippine fault. (Aytch de la Cruz, Mike U. Crismundo)