BUTUAN CITY – Provincial and municipal disaster councils in the Caraga region were mobilized following a moderately strong tectonic earthquake that rocked Agusan del Norte at past midnight on Friday, April 14.
Agusan del Norte Gov. Maria Angelica Rosedell M. Amante, Mayor Ronnie Vicente R. Lagnada here, and mayors in the municipalities of Agusan del Norte and component city of Cabadbaran mobilized their rescue teams to check their constituents and inspect various structures.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the epicenter of the magnitude-5.1 earthquake at 12:04 a.m. was six kilometers southeast of Santiago, Agusan del Norte.
The tremor was felt at Intensity IV in Santiago, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, and Cabadbaran City; Intensity III in Talacogon,
Agusan del Sur; Intensity II in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur, and Intensity I in Guinsiliban, Camiguin. Phivolcs instruments recorded the earthquake at Intensity IV in Cabadbaran City, Intensity III in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, and Intensity I in Talakag, Bukidnon and Abuyog and Mahaplag, Leyte.
The earthquake was tectonic in origin, caused by the movement of an active fault near the area.
Phivolcs said the tremor may have caused damage to houses, buildings, and other infrastructures.
Responders in Caraga reported no damages or injuries from the earthquake as of posting time.
Phivolcs reminded the people to be on alert for aftershocks.
Two hours later at 2:05 a.m., a magnitude-3.4 earthquake shook Santiago and its epicenter was three kilometres northeast of the municipality. The earthquake had a shallow depth of only four kilometers.