The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Monday stressed that no warning has been issued for Negros Oriental about experiencing a potential big earthquake following the ongoing series of tremors.
Ishmael Narag, who heads the Seismological Observation and Earthquake Prediction Division (SOEPD) of PHIVOLCS, gave the assurance in a phone interview Monday as residents of Valencia, Negros Oriental and other nearby areas have expressed concern about the report that circulated last week.
There is no cause for alarm amid the ongoing series of earthquakes in Valencia and nearby areas, Narag further assured.
Public sentiments were spreading on social media even as local government officials here have also denied having received such warning from PHIVOLCS.
According to Narag, the PHIVOLCS is closely monitoring and analyzing data as to the probable cause of the “surge” of earthquakes of various magnitudes over the past weeks, mostly recorded in Valencia town but some with a reference point in nearby Dauin town.
The strongest one was recorded at Magnitude 4.7 in Dauin last January 27, and was felt in Dumaguete City and Sibulan at Intensity IV. Other tremors varied in magnitudes, mostly less than Magnitude 3, PHIVOLCS records show.
As of Monday morning, the local PHIVOLCS seismic monitoring station in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, headed by Engr. Jose Molas, has reported more than 100 tremors since January 1st this year.
The most number of earthquake events within the day was pegged at 28, recorded between 8 a.m. Feb. 1 and 8 a.m. Feb. 2, Molas had said.
More tremors were recorded over the weekend, with at least eight events as of Monday morning.
While Molas had initially described this as an “earthquake swamp”, his superior, Narag explained that the agency couldn’t be conclusive yet on this one because the “surge” of tremors in the past several days does not quite fit the definition of an earthquake swamp.
Besides, PHIVOLCS is also analyzing data to determine whether the Jan. 27 strong tremor was the main shock, and the succeeding tremors were aftershocks, while the quakes that took place on the same day but at an earlier time were foreshocks, Narag said.
According to Narag, they believe that the earthquakes, which they describe as tectonic in origin, are taking place in the Sibulan fault line, which leads to the southwest of the province.
Meanwhile, the PHIVOLCS official said they do not believe that the earthquakes are volcanic in nature, although it is another department in the said agency that can validate this.
Narag said it is not possible for PHIVOLCS to send teams and instruments to Valencia at this time because these are currently deployed in the Bicol region due to the eruption of Mayon Volcano.
As to the report that came out last week regarding a “big one” in Negros Oriental, Narag said he will find out from the PHIVOLCS source who gave the information to the government media reporter which led to the publication of the news report that said Negros Oriental was warned of a potential big earthquake.
Narag assured the people here that the constant seismic activities in Valencia and neighboring towns are being closely monitored, and that there is no imminent danger at present.
He, however, recommended that local government units must be on the alert for potential landslides and the loosening of rocks and boulders due to the continuous shaking in the past several days and weeks. (Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)
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