MANILA, Philippines – A magnitude-5.6 earthquake shook Bukidnon before dawn on Tuesday, September 4, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

The earthquake struck the Maramag, Bukidnon area at 3:44 am, said Phivolcs. It was tectonic in nature, and was initially reported at magnitude-5.8.

It was also recorded at magnitude-5.6 by the United States Geological Survey.

The earthquake was felt the strongest in Musuan, Maramag in Bukidnon, with Phivolcs measuring the earthquake in the area at Intensity V.

Based on the Phivolcs Earthquake Intensity Scale, Intensity V means the earthquake was strong, with the following characteristics: 

• is generally felt by most people indoors and outdoors; arouses people from sleep; causes strong shaking and rocking in buildings

• causes hanging objects to swing “violently”; overturns “small, light, and unstable” objects; rocks vehicles, too

Phivolcs said the magnitude-5.6 earthquake was also felt in the following areas:

Intensity IV – Valencia City, Bukidnon; Arakan, North Cotabato

Intensity III – Malaybalay City, Bukidnon; Cagayan De Oro City, Misamis Oriental; Kidapawan City

Intensity II – Butuan City; Cotabato City

Phivolcs has warned of aftershocks from the predawn earthquake. At 3:52 a.m., an initial magnitude-4.9 aftershock was already recorded in the area.

The earthquake came 4 days after a magnitude-7.6 earthquake struck near Eastern Samar. The earthquake, which triggered a tsunami warning for the Philippines on Friday, August 31, was felt at Intensity VII in some areas.

On Monday, September 3, a magnitude-5.9 earthquake also hit off Sultan Kudarat, and was felt at Intensity IV in Cotabato City.

Phivolcs has advised Filipinos to remain vigilant against earthquakes especially because the Philippines, which is found on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is an earthquake-prone country. It has issued the following tips on what to do before, during, and after an earthquake. (See PDF below.) 

– Rappler.com