An earthquake with a magnitude measuring 5.3 hit waters off Batanes around 8:41 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
The epicenter of the quake was traced 55 kilometers (km) southwest of Sabtang, Batanes. It was tectonic in origin which means that it was caused by the movement of an active fault near the area.
Aftershocks are likely to occur due to this earthquake, said Phivolcs.