By: Mike Crismundo
BUTUAN CITY – Two tectonic earthquakes caused panic among residents in this northeastern-tip city of Surigao and a town of Surigao del Norte on Saturday night.
Officials of Surigao City and Surigao del Norte provincial disaster risk reduction and management councils (DRRMCs), however, said there were no report of damage or injury.
Surigao City Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas and Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol F. Matugas, have ordered the inspection of government and private facilities.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said a 4.0 magnitude earthquake was recorded at 9: 3 p.m. on Saturday.
The epicenter was plotted 14 kilometers southwest of Surigao Sity, Surigao del Norte, it said.
The tremor had a depth of only 4 km.
Intensity V was registered at the city proper of Surigao while Intensity IV also recorded in San Francisco town, in Surigao Del Norte province, Phivolcs said.
Meanwhile, a 3.7 magnitude earthquake was also registered at 9:54 p.m. of this same day.
The epicenter was traced 20 km northwest of Surigao City of Surigao del Norte province.
The tremor had a shallow depth of only 1 km, the state agency said.