Phivolcs
A magnitude 5.0 offshore earthquake struck Ilocos Sur at 9:36 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 16, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.
In its initial bulletin, Phivolcs said the quake’s epicenter was located 49 kilometers southwest of San Esteban, Ilocos Sur, at a depth of 10 kilometers.
Instruments recorded the tremor at Intensity III (weak) in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur; Intensity II (slightly felt) in Candon City, Ilocos Sur; Santol, La Union; and Bontoc, Mountain Province; and Intensity I (scarcely perceptible) in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur; and Aringay, La Union.
Phivolcs said the earthquake was tectonic in origin, caused by the movement of an active fault near the area.
The agency said there was no immediate damage but warned that aftershocks may still occur.