Phivolcs: Magnitude-3.7 quake jolts Masbate

A mild quake shook Masbate province before dawn Thursday, a local Phivolcs official said. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Masbate officer-in-charge Leny Torrevillas said they received calls from many residents who felt the quake at 5 a.m. "We received some calls but these were few as most people were still asleep at that time," she said in an interview on dzBB radio. She said the quake was felt for a few seconds at Intensity III at Masbate City. There was no immediate report of damage or casualty, she added. Phivolcs describes an Intensity III quake as "weak," or felt by many people indoors especially in upper floors of buildings. "Vibration is felt like one passing of a light truck. Dizziness and nausea are experienced by some people. Hanging objects swing moderately. Still water in containers oscillates moderately," it said. A Phivolcs bulletin said the quake was recorded at 5 a.m., with the epicenter at 11 km northwest of Masbate City, Masbate. It was tectonic in origin, the Phivolcs bulletin added. No aftershock was expected from the predawn quake, Phivolcs said. — RSJ, GMA News