A 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit Ilocos Norte on Friday night, March 17, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
In its initial bulletin, Phivolcs said the quake struck 39 kilometers northwest of Burgos, Ilocos Norte around 9:23 p.m.
Its instruments recorded the tremor at Intensity III (weak) in Pasuquin, Batac City, and Laoag City in Ilocos Norte and Intensity I (scarcely perceptible) in Sinait and Vigan City in Ilocos Sur.
The earthquake was tectonic, which means it was caused by the movement of an active fault near the area.
Phivolcs advised the public to stay vigilant as aftershocks may occur.