Earthquake rocks Surigao del Sur

A MAGNITUDE 5.3 earthquake rocked Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur in the country’s south on Wednesday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

The tectonic quake, initially estimated at 5.3 magnitude, had a depth of 25 kilometers and located 32 km southeast of Hinatuan town, which felt a 7.4-magnitude tremor last month that killed three people.

Wednesday’s earthquake was deemed an aftershock of the early December tremor, Phivolcs said.

Meanwhile, the agency said 116 volcanic earthquakes had been recorded near Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon province as of 9 a.m. on Wednesday. It urged residents near the volcano to remain cautious of potential mudflows. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza