Magnitude-5.0 Quake Rattles Ilocos Residents

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake rocked the province of Ilocos Norte at 8:56 p.m. Sunday with its epicenter located at 6 kilometers southeast of Batac City and a depth of focus at 40 kilometers, a report from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Just when most residents are getting early to bed, an aftershock of 4.3 magnitude was felt at 9:12 p.m., located 2 kilometers northwest of Marcos, Ilocos Norte, prompting some of the residents to go out of their houses amid typhoon signal no. 2 still up in the province with light to moderate rains.

Intensity 4 was also felt in neighboring Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Vigan City, and Santa, Ilocos Sur; Intensity 3 in Sarrat, Baguio City, Abra and Ballesteros, Cagayan while Intensity 2 in Tuguegarao, Aparri and Apayao, and Intensity 1 in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

Phivolcs said the quake was tectonic in origin and no damages reported so far.

Meanwhile, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines announced power supply is normal amid the typhoon and earthquake.

“The grid remains intact as there had been no reported cases of power interruption and damaged transmission facilities in Ilocos Norte and nearby areas where earthquake was felt,” said the NGCP advisory. (PNA) JBP/LGA