2nd earthquake hits Itbayat, Batanes at magnitude 5.9

A second earthquake occurred in Itbayat, Batanes on Saturday morning, three hours after the first one, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

The earthquake which occurred at 7:38 a.m. had a magnitude of 5.9. It was earlier reported to be magnitude 6.4.

Its epicenter was located at 20.82°N, 121.67° east - 019 km north 81° west of Itbayat.

The quake was tectonic and had a depth of focus of 43 kilometers.

Intensity VII was felt in Itbayat and Intensity IV in Basco.

PHIVOLCS said damage and aftershocks are to be expected.

One such aftershock measuring magnitude 5.4 occurred at 9:24 a.m.

No tsunami threat was raised, however, according to PHIVOLCS director Renato Solidum.

"Hindi sapat ang magnitude o lakas para mag-trigger ng tsunami," he said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"Moderate magnitude ito. Hindi pa naman ito major earthquake," Solidum added.

The second earthquake occurred after a magnitude 5.4 earthquake rocked Itbayat at 4:16 a.m. on Saturday.

At least seven people were killed after they were pinned down by the walls of their limestone houses in Itbayat.

The fatalities were asleep when the earthquake occurred before dawn. —KG, GMA News