Aftershocks continue to rock Masbate, Phivolcs urges precaution

At least three aftershocks jolted Masbate Wednesday, a day after a magnitude-5.2 quake rocked the area and injured at least 10 people. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the epicenters of at least two of the quakes were near Masbate City. In its bulletins, Phivolcs said the first quake was recorded at 2:34 a.m., with the epicenter at 4 km west of Batuan in Masbate. The quake was felt at Intensity II in Masbate City, Phivolcs said. A second quake measuring magnitude 3.0 was recorded at 7:29 a.m., with the epicenter at 30 km northwest of Masbate City. It was felt at Intensity III in Masbate City, with aftershocks expected. The third quake measuring magnitude 2.9 was recorded at 8:01 a.m., with the epicenter at 13 km northwest of Masbate City. The quake was felt at Intensity III in Masbate City. Take precautions Phivolcs director Renato Solidum Jr. advised residents to take precautions even as he warned there is always a possibility of a more powerful quake. Solidum said Tuesday's quake was not particularly powerful but it caused damage since it occurred very near the city proper. "Ang ganung lindol pwede masundan ng mas malakas, nature ng Masbate segment ng Philippine Fault Zone na kumilos. Kaya 'di natin maalis ang posibilidad na yan," Solidum said in an interview on dzBB radio. "Puwede magkaroon ng kaunting pamamahinga pero in the future magkakaroon uli 'yan kaya dapat paghandaan (There is always that chance of a quake, so we must always be prepared)," he added. Injured in quake up to 10 The number of people injured in the magnitude-5.2 quake that hit Masbate rose to 10, even as power interruption was noted in some areas of Masbate City. In its 7 a.m. update, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also noted more structures, including government facilities, sustained damages due to the quake. According to the NDRRMC report, the latest additions to the injured list included:

The NDRRMC also noted classes in all levels in Masbate City were immediately suspended. It said the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines assigned personnel at the NDRRMC operations center for prompt reporting and monitoring. For its part, the Office of Civil Defense Regional Center for Bicol held an emergency meeting with affected local government units on the affected areas. — LBG, GMA News