Magnitude 5.4 quake rocks earthquake assessment seminar

DUMAGUETE CITY , Philippines   – Some 80 participants of a Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment (REDA) seminar were briefly jolted out of their seats by a magnitude-5.4 earthquake that rocked this city and other parts of Negros Oriental, Zamboanga and Iloilo on Tuesday afternoon.

The participants from various LGUs in Negros Oriental, instead of panicking and rushing outside the seminar venue, however stayed put while lectures were put on hold briefly as the tremor, felt at Intensity 4 in Dumaguete, lasted for about 30 seconds to a minute.

Science research analyst Joe Molas, of Phivolcs seismic station in Sibulan town, said that at around 2:25 p.m. Tuesday, the earthquake struck. It was tectonic in origin, with a depth of focus of 10 kilometers, and was felt at Intensity 3 in Zamboanga, Intensity 3 in Sibulan, Negros Oriental and Intensity 1 in Iloilo, he said.

Molas said participants to the seminar remained calm and even laughed after the tremor, showing signs of confidence of their acquired skills with some people commenting that they should be setting a good example to the public.

The one-day REDA seminar was spearheaded by the provincial government of Negros Oriental through the Provincial Planning Office with guest lecturers from the Phivolcs, PAG-ASA, and the Mines and GeoSciences Bureau of the DENR, said Molas.  (FREEMAN)