A retired police colonel reportedly died and at least 43 others were injured when a 6.6- magnitude earthquake jolted the town of Cataingan in Masbate on Tuesday morning with tremors felt in parts of Luzon and Visayas, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

(PH Red Cross - Masbate / Erasto Alerta / MANILA BULLETIN)

According to Phivolcs, the epicenter of the quake was seven kilometers southwest of the municipality of Cataingan at around 8:03 a.m. where Intensity VII, characterized by Phivolcs as "destructive," was felt.

Phivolcs said the tremor had a depth of 21 kilometers and was tectonic in origin caused by ground shaking primarily due to the sudden movement in the earth's plates.

"Ito po ay dahil sa pagkilos ng Philippine Fault Zone sa Masbate segment. Ito po ay kumilos pahalang. Ang huling pagkilos nito was way back in 2003 pa," Phivolcs office-in-charge director Renato Solidum Jr., said at a virtual briefing on Tuesday, adding that the fault in the area of the epicenter has been moving the past few days. (This is due to the horizontal movement of the Philippine Fault Zone in the Masbate segment which last moved way back in 2003.)

Based on the earthquake bulletin of Phivolcs, the tremor was also felt at Intensity V or "strong shaking" in the city of Masbate, and in the towns of Almagro and Tagapul-an in Samar.

Intensity IV or "moderately strong shaking" was reported in the towns of Palanas and San Jacinto in Masbate; the City of Sorsogon; Legazpi City in Albay; municipality of San Andres in Quezon; Mapanas and Palapag towns in Northern Samar; Barugo, Dagami, Dulag, Julita, La Paz, Palo, and Tanauan, Leyte; and in the City of Sagay, Negros Occidental.

Intensity III or "weak" shaking was recorded in the cities of Baybay and Ormoc, and in the towns of Isabel, Javier, and Kananga in Leyte; in the municipality of Mulanay, Quezon; and in the City of Iloilo.

The tremor was also "slightly felt" at Intensity II in the towns of Guinayangan and Lopez, Quezon; President Roxas, Capiz; and in Patnongon, San Jose de Buenavista, and Tibiao towns in Antique, while Intensity I or a "scarcely perceptible" shaking was recorded in the municipality of Lezo in Aklan, and in the City of Dumaguete, Negros Oriental.

The state volcanology agency also recorded instrumental intensities in the following areas: Intensity V - Masbate City, Masbate. Intensity IV - Palo, Leyte; City of Iloilo; City of Roxas, Capiz; Naval, Biliran. Intensity III - City of Bago, Negros Occidental; Malinao, Aklan; Pandan, Antique; Jamindan, Capiz; Ormoc City. Intensity II - Gumaca, Quezon; San Jose de Buenavista, Antique; City of Sipalay, Negros Occidental; Valderrama, Antique; Sipocot, Camarines Sur; Talibon, Bohol; San Francisco, Cebu. Intensity I - Malay, Aklan; City of Gingoog, Misamis Oriental.

There was no risk of a tsunami from the strong tremor, but Phivolcs said that aftershocks are expected to strike nearby towns and provinces. The agency said that it has recorded more than 20 aftershocks -- the strongest with a 3.3 magnitude, as of Tuesday noon.

Quake fatality

Bing Alerta, a radio anchor of DWZR-AM residing in Cataingan town, told The Manila Bulletin that several buildings collapsed, and some infrastructures suffered damage when the earthquake struck at around 8:15 a.m.

"May nag-collapse na building. Isa itong resort at pag-aari ng isang retired colonel. Yung pamilya ay nakalabas pero siya (retired colonel) ay na-trap sa loob at ongoing pa rescue sa ngayon," he said.

According to Police Regional Office 5 (PRO 5) spokesman Maj. Malu Calubaquib, the body of retired police Col. Gilbert Sauro was eventually recovered from under the debris of a building in his family’s resort in Sitio Alimango, Barangay Concepcion. Another report said Ronalyn Condrillion, a resident of Poblacion, Masbate City, was injured in the quake.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has yet to confirm the police report as of this writing.

According to Masbate public affairs office chief Jun Bagahilog, the reported fatality was inside his house when it collapsed due to the moderately strong earthquake.

A certain Ronallyn Condrillon, of Barangay Poblacion, Cataingan, was also reported injured. In the neighboring town of Palanas, at least 27 individuals sustained minor injuries and were given first aid by volunteers from the Philippine Red Cross (PRX) Masbate chapter, Bagahilog said.

OCD spokesperson Mark Timbal said that at least one house was completely destroyed while several others made of light materials collapsed in Cataingan and other nearby towns.

A portion of the concrete road leading to the Cataingan pier sustained cracks but it remained passable as of 10:30 a.m., said Bagahilog.

The Public Attorney's Office (PAO) building was also damaged in Cataingan while three to four electric posts fell, causing a temporary power interruption in the municipality.

Several bridges in Barangay Pawican and Barangay Gahit in Cataingan, and in Barangay Nabangig in Palanas municipality also sustained cracks.

Bagahilog said the shaking lasted for about a minute.

"Medyo matagal siguro mga 60 seconds. Consistent tapos biglang lumakas, hihina, tapos biglang lumakas ulit (It lasted for about 60 seconds. It was consistently strong at first, it weakened for a while, and then it became strong again)," he said.

MJ Oximer, administrator of the Philippine Red Cross Masbate Chapter, said two teams were deployed in Cataingan town to assess the damage and attend to injured individuals.

Timbal said there was no imminent threat of a tsunami following the strong shaking, citing information obtained by the OCD National Operations Center from the Phivolcs.

Residents in nearby areas were advised to be vigilant as aftershocks are expected.

They were also told to continue observing the minimum health protocols such as wearing a face mask and shield, and observing physical distancing amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

"Nananawagan tayo sa mga kababayan nating Masbatenyo na huwag lalayo sa pagsunod ng standard health protocol (We appeal to Masbatenyos not to abandon the practice of standard health protocol)," said Bagahilog.

Structure integrity

ILOILO CITY – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD-6) is pushing for assessment of structural integrity of infrastructures across Western Visayas region, following a 6.6-magnitude earthquake in Masbate Tuesday that was felt here.

OCD-6 Regional Director Jose Roberto Nuñez issued an August 18 memorandum, urging local governments and government agencies in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental provinces, as well as highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod, to assess their respective infrastructures.

Nuñez, who chairs the Western Visayas Regional Risk Reduction and Management Council (Western Visayas RDRRMC) said RDRRMCs in the provincial, city, municipal, and barangay levels should tap personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the assessment.

The local governments and the government agencies were asked to submit its assessment by August 20. (With AFP)

Alexandria San Juan, Martin Sadongdong, Jaleen Ramos, Nino Luces, & Tara Yap

6.6 quake hits Masbate; 1 dead