By CYRUS M. GARDE
BACOLOD City — A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Negros Occidental, reverberating through several areas in Western Visayas, at 6:16 p.m. yesterday.
The tremor occurred 49 kilometers southwest of Hinoba-an town, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Renato Solidum said over a radio interview.
It was tectonic in origin and had a depth of 10 kilometers, according to an earthquake bulletin issued by Phivolcs on its website.
Solidum said the quake was caused by a movement in the Hinobaan trench.
Intensity 5 was recorded in Hinobaan, while Intensity 4 shook parts of Iloilo City, Bago City, Sipalay City, Pandan town in Antique, Basay in Negros Oriental, the Phivolcs earthquake bulletin showed.
No damage is expected, but aftershocks may occur, according to the earthquake bulletin.
But according to Victor Pamliega, information officer of Hinobaan, no damage had been reported in the municipality as of early evening yesterday.
Pampliega told Panay News in a text message that a communication tower in their compound “gyrated like a dancer.” It was scary, he added.
Barangay Captain Manuel Saborega of Bago, Tayasan, Negros Oriental, said the tremor they felt in their village was strong.
Rufino Alcala, head of the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said they will be ready for aftershocks. (With a report from Eugene Adiong/PN)
