Magnitude 6.9 earthquake strongest in northern Cebu history —PHIVOLCS

The magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Bogo City on Tuesday evening is the strongest earthquake ever recorded in northern Cebu, according to PHIVOLCS.

In Jun Veneracion’s Wednesday report on “24 Oras,” PHIVOLCS said more than a thousand aftershocks are expected to occur.

“Hopefully, lahat nang ito ay mahihina lang [hopefully, every aftershock will be weak],” said Winchelle Sevilla, chief of PHIVOLCS Observation and Earthquake Prediction Division.

Caused by an offshore fault within 5 kilometers, the strongest intensity the earthquake produced was Intensity VII, which was felt in Bogo City, Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remegio, and Tabuela in Cebu.

PHIVOLCS explained that the earthquake did not trigger a tsunami since its movement was side-to-side.

“Malawak po yung reports sa aming pagyanig umabot sa Zamboanga sa south Intesity I hanggang sa bandang Quezon, Malawak po again may kalakasan at may kababawan din,” Sevilla said.

(The tremors reached Zamboanga in the south with Intensity I until Quezon province. The earthquake was shallow and had a wide scope.)

In a simulator, a person would lose their balance during an Intensity VII earthquake.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported that the death toll has risen to 69, of which most of the victims hit by debris.

More casualties are expected as rescue operations continue.

OCD deputy administrator Rafaelito Alejandro said there are many casualties in Bogo city since it is a highly urbanized area with many infrastructures.

PHIVOLCS said other fault systems near the epicenter may also move following the Cebu earthquake.

However, it is too far to affect Metro Manila, where the “Big One,” or the magnitude 7.2 earthquake, may hit. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BM, GMA Integrated News