The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) so far recorded 112 aftershocks following the 5.7-magnitude earthquake that originated in Looc, Occidental Mindoro on Monday, Sept. 27.
"Hanggang kaninang alas-singko ng umaga, mayroon na tayong naitalang isang daan at labindalawang aftershocks (As of 5 o'clock this morning, we have already recorded 112 aftershocks)," Science and Technology Undersecretary and Phivolcs OIC Renato Solidum Jr. said in a GMA interview.
He advised the public to remain vigilant as aftershocks are still likely to occur.
"Inaasahan natin na magkakaroon pa ng aftershocks na posibleng may lakas na hanggang 4.5 to 4.7 . Isa nga po sa mga aftershock ay natila kanina na may magnitude na 4.5 (We expect that there will be more aftershocks that could possibly be as strong as 4.5 to 4.7-magnitude. In fact, one of the aftershocks has been recorded earlier with a magnitude of 4.5)," he said.
"Kapag ganito ang pangyayari at dahil nga po malalim din naman ang mga pinanggagalingan ng lindol mula kanina, ito po'y hindi masyado nararamdaman at hindi magiging mapanira o damaging (When this happens, because the origin of the earthquake is deep, it will not be felt much and will not be destructive or damaging," he added.
Solidum noted that the 5.7-magnitude earthquake was generated by the subduction of the Manila Trench--a major earthquake generator located offshore west of Luzon island, roughly parallel to the Philippine archipelago running from Taiwan to Occidental Mindoro.
He said a 6.6-magnitude quake was recorded in the same area on July 24, 2021.
"Noong July 24 ay may magnitude 6.6 din tayo sa karagatan, offshore ng Calatagan, Batangas. Ito'y magkakaugnay dahil nga sa pagkilos nitong Manila Trench (On July 24, we also had a magnitude 6.6 earthquake that originated offshore of Calatagan, Batangas. These earthquakes are interconnected because of the movement along the Manila Trench)," Solidum said.
Earthquakes are frequent in the Philippines because of several active faults surrounding or crisscrossing the country.
On the average, around 20 earthquakes daily are recorded by Phivolcs all over the country, but some are too weak to be felt.