Magnitude 6.0 earthquake hits Surigao del Sur

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake rocked San Agustin, Surigao del Sur on Monday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

The quake occurred at 6:37 a.m.

Its epicenter was located at 08.64°N, 126.47°E - 029 km S 67° E of San Agustin.

The tectonic earthquake has a depth of focus of 33 km.

PHIVOLCS earlier reported the earthquake as magnitude 6.4, but then downgraded it to magnitude 6.0.

Intensity V was felt in Bislig City and Rosario, Agusan del Sur, PHIVOLCS Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Renato Solidum said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

The earthquake was also felt in these areas:

• Intensity IV - Cagwait, City of Tandag, Bayabas, Surigao Del Sur
• Intensity III - Cagayan de Oro City; Tagaloan, Villanueva, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental
• Intensity II - El Salvador City, Initao, Luagit, Manticao, Misamis Oriental; Virac, Catanduanes
• Intenisty I - Iligan City

PHIVOLCS said damage and aftershocks are expected.

"Hindi ito inaasahang magdudulot ng tsunami," Solidum said.

Solidum also said the earthquake is already classified as strong.

No reports yet

Solidum said they have yet to receive reports of any damage caused by the earthquake.

Sherwin Masancay, chief of Bislig City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, also said they have yet to receive reports of damage.

"So far, ina-assess pa ng mga tao natin. Wala pang nakakapagbigay ng report," Masancay said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"Dito sa Bislig, sa Poblacion, parang OK naman. Nakausap ko 'yung barangay captain at wala naman masyadong problema," he said.

Masancay however said the earthquake was felt strongly in the area.

"Malakas na malakas po. Parang 'yung lindol galing sa ilalim eh. Madali lang, siguro mga 10 to 15 seconds lang yata," he said. —KG, GMA News