A powerful tectonic earthquake of magnitude 6 struck early Monday about 10 kilometers (6 miles) southwest of Bogo City in the central Philippines, shaking buildings and sending residents scrambling from their beds in the predawn hours.
The quake hit at 1:06 a.m. local time, with its epicenter just 5 kilometers (3 miles) beneath the earth’s surface — shallow enough to amplify the tremors felt across a wide swath of the Visayas region. No immediate reports of casualties or major damage emerged, but authorities warned of possible aftershocks that could further unsettle the area.
In its latest bulletin issued at 6:19 a.m., the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, or Phivolcs, detailed the quake’s reach. Intensity V shaking — strong enough to awaken sleepers and sway heavy furniture — was reported in Bogo City and nearby Cebu towns including Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, Tabogon and Tabuelan. The effects rippled to Villaba in Leyte province and Escalante City in Negros Occidental.
Moderately strong Intensity IV tremors, capable of cracking weak plaster and rattling dishes, extended to Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City, along with other Cebu municipalities like Danao City, Talisay City, Toledo City, Asturias, Balamban, Bantayan, Carmen, Catmon, Compostela, Consolacion, Liloan, Pinamungajan, Sogod and Tuburan. Similar shaking hit Iloilo City; Roxas City and Pontevedra in Capiz; and in Leyte, Ormoc City plus Albuera, Capoocan, Calubian, Isabel, Kananga, Merida, Palompon and San Isidro.
Weaker but still noticeable Intensity III vibrations — enough to feel like a passing truck — were logged in more distant spots: Carcar City and Naga City in Cebu, plus Aloguinsan, Argao, Badian, Barili, Dalaguete, San Francisco, San Fernando and Sibonga; Tagbilaran City, Carlos P. Garcia and Dauis in Bohol; Bago City, Cadiz City, Canlaon City, Himamaylan City, San Carlos City and several Negros Occidental towns including Calatrava, Don Salvador Benedicto, Enrique B. Magalona, Isabela, Manapla, Murcia, Pulupandan, San Enrique, Toboso and Valladolid; Guihulngan City and Tanjay City in Negros Oriental, along with Amlan and San Jose; and in Leyte, Tacloban City, Baybay City, Abuyog, Burauen, Carigara, Dulag, Inopacan, Hilongos, MacArthur, Mahaplag, Palo, Tanauan and Tolosa, plus Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Silago and Sogod in Southern Leyte.
Lighter Intensity II shaking, described as weak but perceptible indoors, reached Bacolod City; southern Cebu spots like Alcantara, Dumanjug, Moalboal, Oslob, Ronda, Samboan and Santander; Dumaguete City, Bacong, Sibulan and Valencia in Negros Oriental; and in Southern Leyte, Maasin City, Malitbog, Padre Burgos and San Francisco.
The mildest Intensity I — barely felt by only a few — was noted in Ginatilan in Cebu and Legazpi City in Albay province, far to the south.
Phivolcs emphasized that aftershocks are expected in the coming days, potentially varying in strength, and urged residents to brace for possible structural damage in vulnerable areas. The agency advised avoiding weakened buildings and preparing emergency kits amid the archipelago’s frequent seismic activity, which sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”
This quake adds to a string of recent tremors in the seismically active Philippines, where earthquakes are a constant reminder of the islands’ volatile geology. Officials in affected provinces were mobilizing for inspections, with no disruptions reported yet to major infrastructure like airports or ports.
