A massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake hits the Philippines

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS-DOST) earlier noted that a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake hits the country.

The epicenter

7.0 magnitude earthquake recorded

PHIVOLCS said the quake struck at 8:43 AM and the epicenter is in Dolores, Abra. The impact was felt even in Manila which is over 400 kilometers away.

Originally, they said that the quake is magnitude 7.3. But, more than an hour after the quake, they downgraded it to 7.0. The depth of focus is 017 km.

Affected areas in PH

Intensity VII - Bucloc and Manabo, Abra

Intensity VI - Vigan City, Sinait, Bantay, San Esteban, Ilocos Sur; Laoac, Pangasinan; Baguio City

Intensity V - Magsingal and San Juan, Ilocos Sur; Alaminos City and Labrador, Pangasinan; Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya; Mexico, Pampanga; Concepcion and Tarlac City, Tarlac; City of Manila; Malabon City

Intensity IV - Marikina City; Quezon City; Pasig City; Valenzuela City; Tabuk City, Kalinga; Bautista and Malasiqui, Pangasinan; Bayombong and Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya; Guiguinto, Obando, and San Rafael, Bulacan; San Mateo, Rizal

Intensity III - Bolinao, Pangasinan; Bulakan, Bulacan; Tanay, Rizal

Intensity II - General Trias City, Cavite; Santa Rosa City, Laguna

Aftershocks are expected after strong quakes like this.

The latest post of PHIVOLCS-DOST notes that there is no sign of a tsunami threat from this earthquake. However,  earthquakes of this size may generate unusual sea level disturbances that may be observed along coasts near the earthquake epicenter of Abra province.

Stay safe guys!

Source: PHIVOLCS, Via: Rappler, Interaksyon