Magnitude-6 quake hits Bicol; another at 5.2 rocks Batanes

A magnitude-6 quake and aftershocks hit Bicol before dawn Saturday, with state seismologists expecting damage to property and possibly more aftershocks. State seismologists also recorded a magnitude-5.2 quake off Batanes province in northern Luzon, although they expected no damage or aftershock. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the first quake was felt at Intensity V in parts of Albay, and as far as Cebu City in Central Visayas. It said the quake was recorded at 12:41 a.m., with the epicenter 36 km southwest of San Pascual (Burias Island) in Masbate province, and Sibuyan Sea Fault as the source. Phivolcs said the quake was tectonic in origin and was felt at Intensity V in Lignon Hill in Legazpi City in Albay; Intensity IV in Masbate City, Sorsogon City, Irosin, Sorsogon and Sto. Domingo in Albay; and Intensity II in Cebu City. The United States Geological Survey recorded the quake at magnitude 5.6, and traced the epicenter to 75 km northwest of Masbate, Masbate; 85 km west-southwest of Legazpi City; 95 km south of Naga City; and 300 km southeast of Manila. Aftershocks One of the first aftershocks was recorded at 2:04 a.m., at magnitude 4.1, with the epicenter at 39 km southeast of San Pascual (Burias Island). Another was recorded at 2:25 a.m., at magnitude 3.6, with the epicenter at 23 km southwest of San Pascual. Before the 12:41 a.m. magnitude-6 quake, Phivolcs recorded at least two quakes, including one measuring magnitude 4.4 at 10:04 p.m., with the epicenter at 34 km southwest of San Pascual. It was felt at Intensity III in San Pascual, Burias Island and in Guinayangan, Quezon; and Intensity II in Lopez and Tagcawayan in Quezon province, and in Masbate City in Masbate. Another quake, measuring magnitude 3.7 and with the epicenter at 23 km southwest of San Pascual, was recorded at 10:40 p.m. Last Thursday, a magnitude-5.2 quake also rocked Burias Island, but state seismologists said there was no initial report of damage or casualty. Meanwhile, Phivolcs recorded a magnitude-5.2 quake at 1:43 a.m. Saturday, with the epicenter at 310 km southeast of Basco, Batanes. It said the quake was tectonic, but did not list the areas where it was felt. It said there was no damage or aftershock expected from the North Luzon quake. — LBG, GMANews.TV