Masbate quake jolts Iloilo City, rest of Western Visayas

A 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit Masbate and nearby provinces on Tuesday morning and was felt in Iloilo City, Aklan, and the rest of Western Visayas.

According to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the epicenter of the 6.5-magnitude earthquake was located at Cataingan, Masbate.

Intensity 4 was felt in Mapanas, Northen Samar, Legazpi, Albay, and Lezo, Aklan; Intensity III was recorded in Iloilo City while Intensity I was felt in President Roxas, Capiz.

Meanwhile, other instrumental intensities were reported in Masbate City, Masbate (Intensity V); Palo, Leyte, Iloilo City, Roxas City, Capiz, Naval, Biliran (Intensity IV); Bago City, Negros Occidental, Malinao, Aklan, Jamindan, Capiz, Ormoc City (Intensity III) ; Gumaca, Quezon, City of Sipalay, Negros Occidental,  Valderrama, Antique, Sipocot, Camarines Sur, Talibon, Bohol, San Francisco, Cebu (Intensity II); and Malay, Aklan, City of Gingoog, Misamis Oriental (Intensity I).

Following the 6.5-magnitude quake, Jose Roberto Nuñez chairman of Regional Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC 6) and regional director of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD 6) ordered the assessment of structural integrity of infrastructures in the region

All RDRRMC VI member-agencies and local DRRM Councils are hereby directed to conduct an assessment of structural integrity of various infrastructures within their jurisdiction in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Provincial/City/Municipal Engineering Office.

“With the aftermath of the magnitude 6.6 earthquake in Masbate, there is an urgent need to assess the structural integrity of various infrastructures in our area of responsibility (AOR) to ensure safety and resilience at all times.”

Member agencies of RDRRMC 6 and DRRM councils were also enjoined to update their respective contingency plans for earthquake adapting to the new normal.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Office of the Civil Defense in the (OCD 6) said there has been no reported damages in Western Visayas. (ERS)