Pre-dawn 4.6 magnitude quake caused brief power outages in Butuan City, Agusan provinces

by Ben Serrano

      October 24, 2010

            BUTUAN CITY- A pre-dawn earthquake occurred around 2:38 a.m. Sunday measured 4.6 magnitude awakened many residents from deep slumber in Butuan City and nearby Agusan provinces (Agusan del Norte and some parts of Agusan del Sur ) and caused brief power outages in some parts of the earthquake affected areas. 


            Offices of Civil Defense here in Butuan City and PHILVOCS in Surigao City said the tremor occurred at around 2:38 a.m. with epicenter traced at 15 kilometers northeast of Jabonga, Agusan del Norte. 


            The earthquake  tectonic in origin, had a depth of 125.66 kilometers and was also felt in other parts of the Caraga Region.

            Dr. Blance Gobenciong, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense said no casualty or damages were reported so far.

            Gobenciong said she immediately mobilized filed personnel from her office to oversee and monitor field reports from different local disaster councils in the region. 

            Gobenciong however she did not received reports so far about a huge crack of land in mountainous areas in mining town of Tubay, Agusan del Norte where a huge nickel mining activities or operations atop a mountain in Barangay La Fraternidad were on going.

            Still to be verified reports reaching this region’s capital claimed the already cracking lands near the mine site have further cracked tino about two meters wide and five meters long due to Sunday’s pre-dawn earthquake. 

            The earthquake also caused brief power outage supply from local power coop firm Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative (ANECO). ANECO is not explaining so far what caused the brief power outage after the earthquake. 

            Meanwhile, Phivolcs also reported that a 3.9 magnitude quake also hit Butuan City at 5:20 a.m. on Saturday . 

          The early morning tremor was traced at seven kilometers north of this city with 125.50 kilometers depth. 

Many Caraga Region residents also went into panic when a 5.0-magnitude quake hit Surigao del Sur province at 2:23 a.m., also on Saturday. 

Its epicenter was traced at 85 kilometers south-southeast of Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur province. 

The quake, which was tectonic in origin, had a depth of 141.9 kilometers and was also felt in the provinces of Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte. There were no reports of injuries or damage. (-30-)