5.4 Earthquake Strikes Zamboanga del Norte, No Major Damage Reported

A 5.4 magnitude earthquake, initially reported as a 6.1, jolted Zamboanga del Norte on Thursday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The tectonic event occurred at 11:41 a.m., centered 5 kilometers southeast of Siocon, at a depth of 43 kilometers. The quake was felt with varying intensities across the region. In Siocon, Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay, and Isabela City, it reached Intensity V. Zamboanga City, Sibuco in Zamboanga del Norte, Dimataling in Zamboanga del Sur, and Alicia in Zamboanga Sibugay experienced Intensity IV. Lower intensities were reported in other areas, including Intensity III in Dipolog City and President Manuel A. Roxas in Zamboanga del Norte, and Buug and Siay in Zamboanga Sibugay. Intensity II was felt in San Jose, Antique, Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental, and Molave in Zamboanga del Sur, while Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental reported Intensity I. Phivolcs also recorded an instrumental Intensity IV in Zamboanga City, which is measured using an intensity meter to gauge ground acceleration, as opposed to reported intensity based on human observations. Although no significant damage is anticipated, Phivolcs warned of potential aftershocks. Earlier in the day, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck Southern Leyte, centered 10.01 kilometers southeast of San Francisco at 7:39 a.m.