Cebu logs 9,000 quake aftershocks

Aftershocks from the magnitude-6.9 earthquake that struck offshore Cebu province on Sept. 30 have exceeded 9,000 as of Wednesday morning, Oct. 8.

- By ELLALYN V. RUIZ

THOUSANDS of quakes have been recorded in northern Cebu province since Sept. 30.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said 9,184 aftershocks have been recorded as of 10 a.m. Wednesday, with magnitudes ranging from one to 5.1.

Of the total, 1,679 aftershocks have been plotted or located by at least three earthquake monitoring stations.

Meanwhile, only 38 aftershocks were reported as felt by residents in affected areas.

Phivolcs explained that the occurrence of numerous aftershocks is normal following a strong earthquake, especially when the main shock is of large magnitude.

The magnitude-6.9 earthquake struck off the northern coast of Cebu on Sept. 30, causing strong ground shaking in parts of the Visayas and nearby regions.