Magnitude 5.4 earthquake hits Itbayat, Batanes

A magnitude 5.4 earthquake rocked Itbayat, Batanes before dawn on Saturday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

The earthquake occurred at 4:16 a.m. with epicenter at 20.90°N, 121.85°E - 012 km north 04° east of Itbayat (Batanes).

It was tectonic in origin and had a depth of focus of 12 kilometers.

PHIVOLCS director Renato Solidum told Dobol B sa News TV that the earthquake was felt at Intensity VI in Itbayat, and Intensity III in Basco and Sabtang in Batanes.

"Intensity VI ay strong shaking, at sa aming intensity scale, posibleng magkaroon ng slight damages sa mga mahihinang mga bahay o imprastraktura," Solidum said.

The office of Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco shared photos of some damaged houses in Itbayat. Those were made of limestone.

Solidum also said that because the quake was shallow at 12 kilometers, it was felt more.

"Mababaw ang lindol at malakas ang pagdating," he added.

PHIVOLCS earlier recorded the earthquake's magnitude at 5, but revised this to magnitude 5.4. 

Aftershocks may occur, it added.

Three hours after the magnitude 5.4 earthquake, a stronger one at magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Itbayat, according to PHIVOLCS.

An aftershock measuring magnitude 5.4 followed at 9:24 a.m.

PDRRMO monitoring

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Batanes said it is monitoring the effects of the earthquakes.

At least seven people were killed after they were pinned down by the limestone walls of their houses, Roldan Esdicul, PDRRM officer, told Dobol B sa News TV.

The fatalities were asleep when the quake struck, he added.

Some injured people were brought to a nearby hospital, but the more serious ones needed to be brought to the mainland of Batan island, Esdicul said.

He added that the quake was not felt much on Batan island.

"Hindi masyadong naramdaman sa mainland (Batan) pero sa Itbayat tinamaan nang husto," he said.

Esdicul said communication lines have not been affected in Batanes. —KG, GMA News