No reports of damage or casualties from the magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck Negros and nearby areas Tuesday afternoon have been received so far by the Negros Oriental Provincial Disaster Risk-Reduction & Management Council.
PDRRMC executive officer Adrian Sedillo said they are waiting for reports from areas where the earthquake was felt strongest, like Bayawan City in southern Negros Oriental.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology & Seismology said the earthquake, of tectonic origin, struck at 3:09 p.m, and reported it at magnitude 4.5. The United States Geological Survey website pegged it at magnitude 5.1.
Jose Molas of the Phivolcs Seismic Station in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, said the quake was detected 21 kms 09.83°N, 122.26°E or 018 km N 66° W of Sipalay, Negros Occidental.
The temblor was felt at Intensity V in Hinobaan and Sipalay, Negros Occidental near the epicenter, Intensity IV in Basay, Bayawan City and Sta. Catalina in southern Negros Oriental, Intensity III in Dumaguete City and other towns and cities to Tayasan in the north of the Province. It was also felt in Iloilo City and Dipolog City.
No aftershocks were noted, although the Phivolcs website reported a series of earthquakes of different magnitudes recorded off Bohol and Davao in the last two days.
Meanwhile, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said their power transmission services “remain normal” despite the earthquake. Michelle Visera of NGCP-Visayas said that the Negros and Panay sub-grid remains intact, and no cases of power interruptions and damaged transmission facilities in the areas were reported. (JFP)
