Magnitude 4.2 quake rattles Iloilo; classes, work paused

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Mariela Angella Oladive

A magnitude 4.2 earthquake jolted parts of Iloilo province on Wednesday morning, Oct. 15, prompting precautionary work and class suspensions as authorities moved to assess structural safety across the province.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said the tremor, initially reported at magnitude 4.4, struck at 6:48 a.m. with its epicenter 12 kilometers southeast of Guimbal, Iloilo, and a depth of 15 kilometers.

PHIVOLCS reported the quake was felt at Intensity IV in Iloilo City and Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, and at Intensity III in Guimbal, Miagao and Oton, Iloilo.

Instrumental measurements recorded Intensity III in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras; Intensity II in San Lorenzo, Guimaras, Iloilo City and Bago City, Negros Occidental; and Intensity I in Culasi, Antique, and La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.

Work at the Provincial Capitol was suspended to allow the Provincial Engineer’s Office and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to conduct a structural integrity assessment of the building.

Essential offices—particularly those providing basic, health and emergency services—remained open to ensure continued delivery of government functions.

“Our usual protocol is to return one hour after an inspection, but since the situation is different now—with recurring earthquakes in Mindanao, Cebu and even here in Iloilo—we will adjust,” Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said.

“We have to modify our response, and the next 24 hours are a critical period for possible aftershocks, so we will observe and follow that window before resuming normal operations,” he added.

He urged local governments, schools, hospitals and private establishments—especially those with high-rise structures—to carry out immediate safety inspections.

The Department of Education (DepEd)–Iloilo suspended face-to-face classes from kindergarten to senior high school in all schools within the first district.

First district towns include Guimbal, Igbaras, Miagao, Oton, San Joaquin, Tigbauan and Tubungan.

Data from DepEd-6 showed that 251 schools in Western Visayas shifted to alternative delivery modes on Wednesday, including two in Guimaras and 249 in Iloilo province.

In Iloilo City, Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu left the decision to suspend classes to individual school administrators after facility inspections.

Treñas-Chu previously said the city government cannot impose a blanket suspension of classes on all schools.

At noon, employees at City Hall and the legislative building were evacuated again after aftershocks were felt, coinciding with a scheduled earthquake drill.

One City Hall staff member was brought to the hospital due to breathing difficulties following the tremor.

Vice Mayor Love Baronda ordered the suspension of work at the legislative building in the afternoon.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines confirmed that power transmission services remained stable across Iloilo, Guimaras, Capiz, Aklan and Antique, with no reported damage or interruptions.