Predawn quakes rock Batanes — Phivolcs

At least two predawn quakes jolted parts of Batanes province in extreme northern Luzon on Tuesday, but state seismologists said there was little chance of any damage. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) chief Renato Solidum Jr. said the quakes measured at Magnitude 5.1 and 4.8. "Kung titingnan natin sa ating bansa, di pa masyadong damaging ang ating lindol kasi ang bahay kung di nipa o kawayan o kahoy, may konkreto na may gamit na kaunting bakal. So di pa damaging ang Magnitude-5 na lindol (They are not likely to cause major damage. The houses there are made of nipa or wood, or of concrete and metal. A magnitude-5 quake is not likely to cause major damage)," Solidum said in an interview on dzXL radio. Citing initial reports reaching him, he said the first quake was recorded at magnitude-5.1 at 1:22 a.m., with the epicenter 35 km from Basco. It was felt at Intensity V in Uyugan town, and Intensity IV in Sabtang town. Solidum said a second quake was recorded at 1:40 a.m., at magnitude 4.8. It was felt at Intensity III in Sabtang and Uyugan. Also, he noted that Batanes had been the site of a seismic swarm, or a series of small quakes, in past years. He added that in past days, several small quakes had been recorded in the area. "These are small quakes that do not cause much damage. These happened in 2004 and earlier," he said. - LBG, GMANews.TV