UPDATE Retired police colonel killed in Masbate magnitude 6.6 quake: PNP

August 18, 2020

By Robina Asido

A retired policeman died while another victim was injured following the magnitude 6.6 earthquake that rocked the province of Masbate on Tuesday morning.

In a report, Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, identified the fatality as Gilbert Sauro, a retired police colonel and a resident of Sitio Alimango, Brgy Concepcion, Cataingan.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the epicenter of the 6.6 magnitude quake was recorded five kilometers southwest of Cataingan. Cataingan is 77 kilometers southeast of Masbate City.

Cataingan recorded Intensity VII, said Phivolcs in its bulletin.

Injured were Ronalyn Condrillon, a resident of Poblacion, Masbate, police said.

Calubaquib noted that their houses were among the structures that were damaged by the quake.

Jun Bagahilog, public information officer of Masbate province, told dzBB the quake lasted  around 60 seconds. He added that 10 persons were slightly injured.

Calubaquib said the damaged infrastructures also includes the Public Attorney's Office, Old and new Cataingan Public market, Cataingan municipal police station (MPS), concrete road and docking area of Cataingan Port.

She said the personnel of Cataingan police and the local government of Cataingan, Masbate are conducting search and retrieval operations.

The earthquake which is tectonic in origin has a depth of  21 kilometers.

More areas were affected by the quake than the previous bulletin. Twelve aftershocks, the strongest at magnitude 3.8 which occurred twice, all took place in Cataingan.

Intensity V was reported in Masbate City, Almagro and Tagapulan, Samar.

Intensity IV was reported in Palanas and San Jacinto, Masbate; Sorsogon City, Mapanas and Palapag, Northern Samar; Legazpi City, Albay ; San Andres, Quezon; Barugo, Dagami, Dulag, Julita, La Paz, Palo and Tanuan, Leyte and Sagay City, Negros Occidental.

Intensity III was felt in City of Baybay, Isabel, Javier and Kananga, Leyte; Ormoc City; Mulanay, Quezon and Iloilo City.

Intensity II was recorded in Guinayagan and Lopez, Quezon; President Roxas, Capiz; Patnongon, San Jose de Buenavista and Tibao, Antique.

Intensity I was felt in Lezo, Aklan and Dumaguete, Negros Oriental.

Instrumental intensities were recorded, with the highest at Intensity V in Masbate City; Intensity IV in Palo, Leyte; Iloilo City, Roxas City and Naval, Biliran.

Intensity III was felt in Bago City, Negros Occidental; Malinao, Aklan; Jamindan, Capiz; Ormoc City; Intensity II in Gumaca, Quezon; Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, Valderrama, Antique; Sipocot, Camarines Sur; Talibon, Bohol and San Francisco, Cebu.

Intensity I was reported in Malay, Aklan and Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental. DMS