Aftershocks in Abra expected to continue for several weeks — PHIVOLCS

Incidents of aftershocks are expected to continue in the next several weeks following the magnitude 7 earthquake that struck Abra on Wednesday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said Thursday.

“We expect aftershocks to continue for several weeks, pero the first three days po ang marami and hopefully, pababa na siya,” PHIVOLCS chief Renato Solidum said during a briefing with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in Abra.

(We expect aftershocks to continue for several weeks, but there will be more in the first three days and hopefully, it will decrease.)

He said residents may return to their homes once their buildings or residences have been declared structurally safe.

“But people should be ready how to respond properly during aftershock kasi malakas pa po ang posibleng aftershock (because aftershocks are still strong),” he said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said over 798 aftershocks were recorded in Abra. NDRRMC Assistant Secretary Bernardo Alejandro IV said these ranged from magnitude 1.5 to 5.4.

But in a text message to GMA News Online, Solidum said a total of 828 aftershocks have been recorded as of 11 a.m.

A check on the PHIVOLCS website showed that a magnitude 5 earthquake hit Tayum, Abra at 4 a.m. Intensity IV was felt in Bangued.

On Wednesday, the quake occurred at 8:43 a.m. and was located at 17.64°N, 120.63°E - 003 km N 45° W of Tayum in Abra and had a depth of 17 kilometers.

Meanwhile, the death toll due to the earthquake was recorded at 4 while 131 others were injured.—AOL, GMA News