
A 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck offshore of Batanes on Sunday morning, Aug. 13, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Phivolcs said the earthquake, which occurred at 9:43 a.m., had its epicenter 42 kilometers (km) northwest of Sabtang, Batanes.
It occurred at a shallow depth of 48 km beneath the epicenter.
Phivolcs initially measured the quake’s magnitude at 5.7, but later revised it to 5.4.
The tremor was felt at Intensity V (strong) in Sabtang, Batanes; Intensity IV (moderately strong) in Basco, Mahatao, Ivana, and Uyugan in Batanes; and Intensity III (weak) in Itbayat, Batanes.
It was also recorded by Phivolcs' instruments at Intensity I (scarcely perceptible) in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte.
Phivolcs said the earthquake was tectonic, which means it was caused by the movement of an active fault near the area.
It advised the public to remain vigilant as aftershocks may occur.