Magnitude 4.5 quake jolts Northern Luzon

BAGUIO CITY — A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck Northern Luzon on Thursday afternoon, shaking La Union and nearby provinces.

The quake occurred at 2:33 p.m. and was traced at Pugo, La Union, at a depth of 11 kilometers, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Phivolcs recorded Intensity V in Baguio City and Tuba, Benguet, and the La Union towns of Tubao and Pugo, indicating strong shaking that was felt indoors by most people, prompting them to head to open spaces.  Schools immediately suspended classes at all levels while work in government as well as private offices housed along buildings were temporarily halted to give way for structural inspections.

According to the Baguio police, a number of students were brought to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center after fainting and complaining of panic attacks.

Intensity IV was felt in San Fernando City, Sison, Rosario, Naguilian, Bagulin, Bauang, Santo Tomas, Agoo and Caba in La Union, and Itogon, La Trinidad, Tublay, Sablan and Kapangan in Benguet. Intensity III was experienced in Dagupan City and several towns in Pangasinan, as well as Aringay, San Juan, Balaoan, Bangar and Bacnotan in La Union.

Instrumental readings also showed Intensity IV in Aringay, La Union; Intensity III in Sison, Pangasinan; Intensity II in Urdaneta City; and Intensity I in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija, and Lingayen, Pangasinan. — Artemio A. Dumlao