A strong earthquake measuring 5.6 in magnitude rocked the municipality of Burgos in Ilocos Norte on late Monday morning with intensity levels that were felt across several towns in neighboring Ilocos Sur.
In an updated information bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the offshore tremor occurred at 10:56 a.m. It was tectonic in origin and located some 48 kilometers northwest of Burgos at a depth of 15 km.
Phivolcs recorded varying degrees of intensity in the following areas: Sinait and Cabugao, Ilocos Sur and Sarrat, Ilocos Norte (Level 5); Claveria, Cagayan and Tubo, Abra (Level 4); Lacub, Abra (Level 3); Aparri and Lasam, Cagayan (Level 2).
Instrumental intensities were likewise reported in the following: San Nicholas, Ilocos Norte (Level 5); Sinait and Vigan City, Ilocos Sur (Level 4); Gonzaga, Cagayan (Level 3); Peñablanca, Cagayan with Bangued, Abra and Bontoc, Mountain Province (Level 2); Candon and Narvacan, Ilocos Sur (Level 1).
Phivolcs said damage to properties and aftershocks are expected from this seismic event. As of this posting, seismologists noted light tremors at magnitudes 1.6 to 3.1 affecting the towns of Adams and Dumalneg in Ilocos Norte.
