Saturday, December 08, 2007
Quake rocks island
A MILD tremor hit Bantayan Island at 10:47 yesterday morning, which registered at intensity two.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) 7 recorded a magnitude of 2.9. Magnitude is measured by the total energy released, while intensity is based on the effect of the quake.
Phivolcs 7 Chief Robinson Jorgio said there was only a slight tremor, mostly felt in the town of Madridejos.
Madridejos Mayor Salvador dela Fuente said the quake was felt twice in the area.
“It wasn’t very strong. It went on for only about three to four seconds and after 10 minutes, it happened again. The first one was stronger,” dela Fuente told Sun.Star Cebu during a phone interview.
Bantayan Mayor Gera-lyn Escario-Cañares said she also felt the tremor, but it was very weak.
“It didn’t last very long. There wasn’t even time to stand up,” she also said.
Both mayors said there was no casualty or any damage to properties reported after the tremor.
Jorgio explained that the earthquake was shallow, which means it was generally on the surface. This explains the slight tremor, he said.
“The effect is just like that of a truck passing by,” he said of the intensity of the earthquake.
The point of origin is tectonic, meaning it was caused by the movement of the ground, especially in areas with weak boundaries.
There are two types of earthquake, tectonic and volcanic, but Jorgio said volcanic quakes are not common in Cebu. (JGA)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (December 8, 2007 issue)
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