Magnitude 6.3 quake jolts Negros Occidental

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Negros Occidental late Thursday, with shocks felt as far as Masbate City in Luzon and Zamboanga Del Sur in Mindanao.

The tectonic quake hit at 6:16 p.m., centered west of the coast of Hinoba-an town, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in a bulletin.

Strongest shocks were felt in Hinoba-an (intensity 5). Intensity-4  shocks were recorded in other Negros Occidental towns of Basay, Sipalay and Binalbagan.

The quake was also felt as intensity 4 in Iloilo City; Bago City; Pandan, Antique and in Bayawan City in Negros Oriental, state seismologists reported further.

The shocks are strong enought to cause damage in affected areas, Phivolcs said, adding that aftershocks should also be expected.

Intesity-3 shocks were recorded in the following areas:

• Bacolod City
• La Carlota City
• Dumaguete City
• Bais City
• Roxas City
• La Castillana, Negros Occidental
• Negros Oriental towns of Tayasan, Jimalalud, Ayungon and Sibulan
• Zamboanga City
• Lapulapu City
• Jagna, Bohol
• Oton, Iloilo

Intensity-2 shocks were meanwhile felt in Pagadian City and the Antique towns of San Jose and Sibalom.

The following areas felt the quake as intensity-1 shocks:

• Masbate City
• Kalibo, Aklan
• Zamboanga del Norte towns of Labason, Polanco, and Manukan