MANILA — The earthquakes that jolted Luzon and Mindanao this month are unrelated, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said on Friday, hours after a 5.4-magnitude quake was felt in parts of the Philippines’ largest island.
The fresh temblor shook parts of Luzon two days after a 6.4-magnitude quake jolted Mindanao.
“Hindi po sila konektado kasi yung lindol kanina sa Mindoro, ang source noon ay the Manila Trench. ‘Yung sa Mindanao naman noong August 5 at kahapon ng madaling araw ay ang Cotabato Trench,” Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said.
“Hindi po sila konektado, magkakalayo po yan. It’s just that both trenches are very much active kaya there is always this possibility na magkakasabay ang paglindol,” he told state television PTV.
While no major damage was expected from the Luzon earthquake, the Phivolcs chief still urged the public to stay alert for possible aftershocks and tsunamis.
“Kung may bahay o gusali na napinsala ng mga naunang paglindol, ipapa inspect muna natin bago gamitin ito,” he said.
“Mag-ingat din sa mga lugar na may landslide hazard o mga bitak sa lupa,” he said.
“‘Wag natin hintayin ang official tsunami warning dahil kapag ganito na locally generated na tsunami, it would only take several minutes bago dumating yung malakas o mataas na alon,” he added.
MAYON
Meanwhile, communities near the Mayon Volcano are also cautioned against a possible lahar flow even if the volcano’s alert level has been lowered a notch, the chief state volcanologist said.
“Kahit nasa alert level 2 na ang Mayon, may panganib pa rin ng lahar… lalo na kapag may torrential at continuous rainfall,” he said.
“Mayroon nang 90 million cubic meters of volcanic materials. Kapag contentious at torrential rainfall ay maaari pa rin itong ma-mobilize as lahar,” he said.
The public should always practice the duck, cover and hold rule once they feel an earthquake, Bacolcol said, noting that temblors may strike the Philippines any time as the country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire.