A magnitude 5.3 earthquake hit Cagayan Tuesday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported. The tectonic quake struck 26 km. northeast of Dalupiri Island at 4:03 p.m. It was 16 km. deep. Intensity II was felt in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, while intensity I was felt in Sinait, Ilocos Sur. Phivolcs also logged the following instrumental intensities: Intensity III - Aparri, Cagayan Intensity II - Laoag City and Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte; Candon, Ilocos Sur Intensity I - Batac, Ilocos Norte; Sinait, Ilocos Sur Reported intensity is the traditional way of knowing the intensity based on reports of people who felt the earthquake while instrumental intensity is measured using an intensity meter that measures ground acceleration. Phivolcs said both aftershocks and damage are likely from the magnitude 5.3 earthquake. Earlier, Phivolcs reported a magnitude 5.5 earthquake that jolted parts of Northern Luzon on Tuesday afternoon. Phivolcs said it traced the quake's epicenter 13 kilometers west of Kabugao in Apayao province. The earthquake, which hit the area at around 4:03 p.m., was of tectonic origin and was 30 kilometers deep. Nearby Aparri in Cagayan felt the tremor at Intensity III and Laoag City and Pasuquin in Ilocos Norte and Candon in Ilocos Sur at Intensity II, and Batac, Ilocos Norte and Sinait in Ilocos Sur at Intensity I, Phivolcs added.
Source: Philippines News Agency