• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
An earthquake struck some portions of Negros Occidental on Monday and Tuesday, the strongest being a magnitude 5.1 quake that hit Sipalay City, although no damage was reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
Ptolemy Maniego, Science Research Assistant at the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory in La Carlota City, disclosed that the magnitude 5.1 quake was experienced by Sipalay City residents at 8:04 a.m. Monday, with tremors felt in Kabankalan City and Bago City.
It was preceded by a magnitude 3.5 quake recorded by PHIVOLCS at 5:58 a.m. on the same day. Both earthquakes were tectonic in origin, with a depth of three and five kilometers, respectively.
Classes at the Sipalay City National High School and Kabankalan Catholic College were temporarily stopped due to the tremors.
Mayor Gina Lizares reported that Sipalay City residents are accustomed to such event as the local government unit is located near the Negros Trench.
Despite the tremors, Lizares said there was no cancellation of classes in Sipalay City.
Classes on Tuesday were cancelled by Mayor Richard Jaojoco after Toboso experienced five earthquakes on Monday night, with magnitudes as high as 2.3.
Jaojoco said the series of earthquakes believed to have been triggered by the East Negros fault line in Sitio Burgos, Barangay General Luna, Toboso.
Maniego also clarified that seismic activity in Sipalay City and Toboso, has nothing to do with the recent powerful earthquake that struck Bogo City and neighboring areas in Cebu.
The magnitude 6.9 quake in northern Cebu on September 30 was also felt in Negros Occidental.*
