Magnitude 6.0 quake shakes Masbate

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred southwest of Batuan, Masbate early Thursday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported.

The quake that occurred at 2:10 a.m. was tectonic in origin with a depth of 10 kilometers.

The agency initially reported a 5.7-magnitude quake and that damage and aftershocks can be expected.

As of 3:30 a.m., PHIVOLCS said the quake was also felt at various strength in the following areas:

• Intensity VII - City of Masbate, Masbate
• Intensity V - Dimasalang, San Fernando, and Uson, Masbate
• Intensity IV - City of Legazpi, Albay; Aroroy, Cataingan, Esperanza, Milagros, and Pio V. Corpuz, Masbate; Irosin, and City of Sorsogon, Sorsogon
• Intensity III - Daraga, Albay

A 5.0-magnitude quake was recorded earlier, at 5:15 p.m. northwest of Dimasalang, Masbate.

The quake was tectonic in origin with a depth of 8 kilometers, and was also felt in varying degrees in the following areas:

• Intensity VI - City of Masbate, Masbate
• Intensity V - Uson, Masbate
• Intensity IV - Aroroy, Batuan, Dimasalang, Mobo, San Fernando, and San Jacinto, Masbate
• Intensity III - City of Legazpi and Daraga, Albay; Baleno, Cataingan, Claveria, Milagros, Monreal, and Palanas, Masbate; Irosin, Sorsogon; Capul, Catarman, and San Vicente, Northern Samar
• Intensity II - Guinobatan, Albay; Pio V. Corpuz, and Placer, Masbate; City of Sorsogon, and Bulusan, Sorsogon; City of Roxas, Capiz; Allen, Rosario, San Isidro, and Victoria, Northern Samar
• Intensity I - City of Ligao, Albay; Bobon, Northern Samar

-- BAP, GMA Integrated News