MANILA — Just days after a deadly earthquake left Cebu reeling, a magnitude 5.8 aftershock jolted the province before dawn on Monday, sparking renewed fear among residents still recovering from the earlier magnitude 6.9 quake.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the tectonic quake, initially measured at magnitude 6, struck 10 kilometers southwest of Bogo City at 1:06 a.m., with a shallow depth of five kilometers — an indication of strong surface shaking.
In its 6:19 a.m. bulletin, Phivolcs recorded Intensity V tremors in Bogo City, Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, Tabogon, and Tabuelan in Cebu; Villaba in Leyte; and Escalante City in Negros Occidental.
Intensity IV shaking was felt in Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Danao City, Talisay City, Toledo City, and other nearby municipalities, as well as in Iloilo City, Roxas City, and parts of Leyte and Capiz.
Weaker tremors of Intensity III and II were felt in portions of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Island, Leyte, and Southern Leyte, while Intensity I reached as far as Legazpi City, Albay.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said authorities are verifying reports of possible damage and casualties.
“Ngayong umaga po, pumapasok ang mga reports. Sana wala pong casualty dito sa aftershock na ito,” said OCD Assistant Secretary Bernardo Alejandro IV in an interview with GMA’s Unang Balita.
The aftershock follows the September 30 magnitude 6.9 earthquake, which claimed 75 lives, injured nearly 600, and affected over 700,000 residents in Central Visayas.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) earlier reported that 79,959 houses were damaged, and infrastructure losses were estimated at ₱6.76 million. Cebu remains under a state of calamity, with ₱204 million in assistance already distributed to victims.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as aftershocks are expected to persist in the coming days./PN
