A map from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology indicates the location of one of the three strong earthquakes that hit the vicinity of Surigao del Sur Sunday evening, April 3, 2022.
BUTUAN CITY – No damages were reported after three strong earthquakes struck off the coast of Bayabas town in Surigao del Sur Sunday evening.
Data from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) indicated that the magnitude 5.6 tremor hit 56 kilometers (km) northeast off the coast of Bayabas at around 6:24 p.m.
An intensity IV earthquake was felt in the towns of Bayabas, Cantilan, Carmen, and Tandag City; intensity II in Bislig City and the towns of Marihatag, Carrascal, San Agustin and Lanuza, as well as some areas in Agusan del Sur.
Meanwhile, intensity II was also felt in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, and intensity I in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur.
The second quake, with a magnitude of 5.4, struck 77 km off the coast of Bayabas at around 7:22 p.m., while the third one, with a magnitude of 5.5, hit at 11:29 p.m. 67 km northeast near the same area.
Phivolcs also recorded a total of 18 aftershocks, two of which were recorded on Sunday evening while the 16 were reported Monday (April 4) at 9:21 a.m., with a magnitude of 3.3 that hit 41 km northeast off Bayabas town.
Col. Joseph Boquiren, Surigao del Sur police director, told the Philippine News Agency that no damages were reported in areas affected by the earthquakes.
“The local police office in Bayabas town reported no damages in the area. The other towns also logged negative damages after the earthquake,” Boquiren said.
Meanwhile, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said that its services remain normal in the area despite the strong tremors.
“The Mindanao grid remains intact as there are no reports of power interruption and damaged transmission facilities in Surigao del Sur and nearby areas where the earthquake was felt,” NGCP said in an advisory Sunday evening. (PNA)
