Phivolcs installs seismometer devices in 5 CamSur towns

By Lizel S. Macatangay

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has installed seismometer devices in five towns in Camarines Sur.

The seismometer instruments were installed in the towns of Libmanan, Calabanga, Pasacao, Pili, inside the Provincial Capitol Complex, and Naga City.

A seismometers is capable of recording ground noises and tremors caused by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

The result of the recording, which will be in a form of seismograph, will help Phivolcs to determine the source and location of an earthquake. Several tremors shook most parts of the province since Oct.14 until the recent one recorded on Oct.23.

“After two (2) weeks, they will collect the recorded data to determine the source of earthquake,” Environment, Disaster Management and Emergency Response Office (EDMERO) chief Luzena Bermeo said in an interview.

The earthquake swarms following the 4.3 magnitude earthquake that happened on Oct. 14 at around 10:08 PM created panic and alarm among Camarinenses, particularly residents of Pili who experienced Intensity V.

Adjoining municipalities also experienced the strong tremor with varying intensities: Canaman and Sipocot, (Intensity V), Calabanga, Camaligan, Gainza, Ocampo, and some parts of Pili and Ocampo (Intensity IV), Iriga City (Intensity III) and Buhi (Intensity II).

Based on Phivolcs Earthquake Information No.2 issued a few minutes after the sudden movement of the grounds on Oct.14, the earthquake was also felt in some parts of Legazpi City, Albay (Intensity II) and in Mercedes, Camarines Norte (Intensity I). It has a tectonic origin.

Per Phivolcs record, the quake was followed by 27 recorded earthquake swarms and 17 plotted earthquakes ranging between 1.7 to 4.3 magnitudes with 1 to 42 km depth range.

Of the tremors that occurred from Oct. 14 to 18, the Oct. 14 earthquake has the largest magnitude classified as “strong” by the said agency.

After a lull of two days, another slight tremor occurred on Oct. 21 with magnitude 1.8. It was traced at 13.84°N, 123.43°E - 010 km N 72° East of Tinambac, Camarines Sur.

On Oct. 23 at around 3:49 AM another 4.2 magnitude earthquake was recorded by Phivolcs. The capital town of Pili once again experienced the strong tremor recorded at Intensity V. The agency also recorded Intensity II in Iriga City, Intensity I in Daet and Mercedes, Camarines Norte.

A slight tremor was again felt on the same day at around 7:27 AM with the location mapped at 13.74N, 123.26E - 014 km N 42° East of Canaman, Camarines Sur. Intensity I was recorded in Pili and Sipocot.

Phivolcs team will retrieve the recorded data on the second week of November to determine the vertical direction or source of the earthquake.