Strong quake moved part of Bohol to Cebu – Phivolcs

MANILA, Philippines - The magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit parts of Central Visayas last Oct. 15 moved part of Bohol closer to Cebu, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said yesterday.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said the powerful quake - which left more than 200 people dead - moved Bohol, including Tagbilaran City, by 55 centimeters west towards Cebu.

Solidum, however, said the phenomenon does not pose any threat to Cebu or Bohol.

Solidum said this was discovered by their team that conducted an assessment of the crustal movement after the killer quake.

Phivolcs had said the tremor was generated by a blind fault, now called the North Bohol Fault.

He said the movement was discovered through GPS (Global Positioning System) installed at their station in Tagbilaran City.

"This is normal especially during a large quake," Solidum said.

He said the tremor has generated at least 4,026 aftershocks, 114 of which were felt.

Meanwhile, Solidum said they would release next year a new tool to help ordinary households evaluate if their houses are safe during earthquakes.

Phivolcs has partnered with the Japan International Cooperation Agency in developing a questionnaire, composed of 12 questions related to the structural integrity of their houses.

The questionnaire dubbed "How safe is my house?" will be available to the public through the agency's website www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph.