Strong tremor shakes Cebu

Phivolcs said the quake was initially recorded as magnitude 6.0, but was later downgraded to 5.8 after a more detailed analysis.

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But the agency followed it up with a declaration that it was, after all, an aftershock only.

Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol clarified that the event was an aftershock of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that devastated northern Cebu on September 30, killing at least 75 people and injuring hundreds.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) echoed the Phivolcs findings to the public, saying that the magnitude-5.8 tremor that jolted northern Cebu yesterday (October 13) is not a doublet, but a strong aftershock of the magnitude-6.9 offshore earthquake, a month ago.

OCD Deputy Administrator, Asec. Rafaelito Alejandro IV, clarified this yesterday:

“This is an aftershock of the September 30 earthquake po ... as per Phivolcs,” Alejandro said. “Malakas ang shaking kahit aftershock siya ... tuloy-tuloy pa rin ito.”

With this, OCD reminded everyone to stay alert. “Ang abiso namin, stay alert po muna, dahil malakas po ang iniaasahaang aftershocks dahil sa Sept. 30 earthquake,” he added.

In Cebu Province, even if the mag-5.8 tremor was an aftershock, local authorities immediately mobilized response teams to check on residents and assess possible damage.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro has ordered all department heads and local engineers to conduct a comprehensive assessment of public infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and hospitals, to ensure that they remain structurally sound.

Provincial authorities immediately raised the alert status to Red, mobilizing local disaster teams to conduct assessments across affected areas.

Cebu Provincial Public Information Officer Ainjeliz dela Torre-Orong said no new fatalities have been recorded as of yesterday morning.

“Thankfully wala may recorded additional fatalities,” said Orong.