Four earthquakes jolt RP within almost two hours

By Ronron
December 9, 2007

Four earthquakes jolted the Philippines within a span of two hours on Sunday, although no damages were reported, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) chief said.

According to Dr. Renato Solidum, the first quake was recorded at 11:57 am with a 3.9 magnitude, affecting Sto. Domingo (Intensity III) and Abra/Sinait (Intensity II) towns in Ilocos Sur.

The second followed at 1:22 pm, registering a magnitude of 5.3. It shook Oras and Can-Avid towns in Eastern Samar at Intensity IV; Catarman in Northern Samar, and Brorongan in Eastern Samar at Itensity III; and, Tacloban in Leyte, and Irosin in Sorsogon at Intensity II.

At 1:34 pm, the third quake happened with a 3.4 magnitude, rocking Can-Avid town again at Intensity II.

“The 1:22 pm and 1:34 pm quakes in Eastern Samar are related,” Solidum said.

The last quake happened at 1:54 pm with a magnitude of 3.1, affecting Pasuquin in Ilocos Norte at Intensity III, and Sinait again at Intensity II.

This last quake, Solidum said, is not related, however, to the 11:57 am incident, nor to the 1:22 pm and 1:34 pm earthquakes.

But he said all four earthquakes were tectonic in origin and emanated only from shallow level.

“There were no damages because these are just weak intensities. We expect damages during Intensity 6 and above,” Solidum said./DMS