'Very strong' aftershock strikes Bohol capital

MANILA, Philippines - A magnitude 5.5 aftershock struck Tagbilaran City, Bohol on Thursday morning, one of the more than a thousand temblors since the province was hit by a magnitude-7.2 earthquake on Tuesday.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the earthquake was recorded at 7:37 a.m. and was tectonic in origin.

Intensity 6 was felt in Tagbilaran City while Intensity 4 was observed in Dumaguete City, Lapu Lapu City, Sibulan and Negros Oriental.

Phivolcs describes Intensity 6 as "very strong."

In the event of an Intensity 6 temblor, it said people lose their balance; motorists would feel like driving with flat tires and very old or poorly built structures are slightly damaged.

Intensity 2 was also felt in Maasin, Southern Leyte and in Mambajao, Camiguin.

Phivolcs said more than a thousand aftershocks have been monitored following the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Bohol at 8:12 a.m. on Tuesday.

The major earthquake has so far killed 158 people and affected 3,406,227 individuals.

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