Magnitude 4.8 earthquake hits Camarines Norte

MANILA, Philippines – A magnitude 4.8 earthquake hit parts of Camarines Norte on Tuesday, January 17. 

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the quake happened at 5:57 am off Tinaga Island in the town of Vinzons, Camarines Norte. 

Phivolcs– which initially reported a magnitude 5.3 earthquake but later downgraded it to magnitude 4.8 – said aftershocks and damage were expected.

Camarines Norte Governor Ricarte Padilla cancelled work and classes to allow disaster risk reduction management offices to assess damage to buildings and infrastructure.

Vinzons Mayor Eleanor Segundo told dzMMTeleradyo the quake did not affect power and water lines.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) status update said there were no reported casualties. But cracks were seen on several classrooms of the Banocboc Elementary School and the Eugenia Quintela Memorial High School in the same barangay.

In Labo town, 36 kilometers from Vinzons, Sangguniang Bayan member Rey Kenneth Nery Oning posted photos of a landslide on the Malibago – Malaya Road, which he attributed to a combination of ground movement and earth softened by days of rain.

One lane remained open, he said, and teams have begun to clear the area.

The quake was felt in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Northern Samar, Quezon, Bulacan, Metro Manila, and Rizal. 

“Medyo malakas ‘yan, lalo na 10 kilometers lang ang depth,” Dr. Teresito Bacolcol, Officer-in-Charge of Phivolcs told radio DZBB. (It is quite strong, especially since the earthquake was at a depth of 10 kilometers.)

Bacolcol said they expect damage from the quake, but none had yet been reported.

Reported intensities

Intensity V – Mercedes, Camarines Norte
Intensity IV – Guinayangan, and Tagkawayan, Quezon
Intensity III – Buenavista, and Lopez, Quezon; Naga City, Camarines Sur
Intensity II – Catanauan, and San Narciso, Quezon

Instumental intensities

Intensity V – Daet, Camarines Norte
Intensity III – Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte; City of Iriga, and Ragay, Camarines Sur; San Roque, Northern Samar
Intensity II – Alabat, Guinayangan, Gumaca, Infanta, Mauban, and Mulanay, Quezon; Pasacao, and Pili, Camarines Sur
Intensity I – City of Marikina; City of Pasig; Pulilan, Bulacan; Calauag, Quezon; Taytay, Rizal

– Rappler.com