MANILA — More aftershocks can occur in the aftermath of the magnitude 6.7 earthquake near Surigao del Norte province’s Surigao City.
“Such aftershocks are still possible due to the magnitude and depth of the earthquake that struck late Friday night below waters bordering Surigao City,” said science research assistant, Paulo Sawi, of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
He said Phivolcs already recorded, as of 5 a.m. Saturday, 89 aftershocks from the earthquake of tectonic origin.
Those aftershocks’ magnitudes ranged from 2.0 to 3.9, he noted.
Sawi said Phivolcs expects forthcoming aftershocks to be of lesser magnitude and not destructive.
“Some of those aftershocks may be felt but not at strongintensities,” he added.
He however urged communities concerned to continue to be alert for such possible occurrences.
Latest Phivolcs data show the 10:03 p.m. earthquake struck 14 km. north, 78 degrees west of Surigao City at a depth of 11 km.
Phivolcs said the earthquake was felt at intensity 6 in Surigao City and Pintuyan, Southern Leyte; intensity 5 in Mandaue City, San Ricardo, Limasawa and San Francisco, Southern Leyte; intensity 4 in Hinunangan, Southern Leyte and Butuan City; intensity 3 in Hibok-Hibok, Camiguin, Tolosa and Tacloban, Leyte, Bislig City, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, and intensity 2 in Cagayan de Oro City, Talocogon City, Agusan del Sur, Dumaguete City and Cebu City.
“The earthquake struck at a shallow depth only, so this tremblor was felt even in communities already far from its epicenter,” said Sawi.
Intensity 6 means people felt the quake as “strong”, noted Phivolcs.
Phivolcs added that intensity 2 indicates people just “slightly felt” the earthquake. Catherine Teves/PNA-northboundasia.com