Magnitude 4.9 earthquake in Mt. Province leaves structural damage

Mt. Province, Philippines – Mountain Province suffered infrastructure damage following an earthquake that struck the area on February 6, 2024.

On Tuesday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOLCS) reported that a 4.9 magnitude tremor shook Mountain Province, specifically the Municipality of Tadian, around 12:20 p.m.

Following the jolt, the Mountain Province Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office was notified of damages in some areas.

Among these include the buildings at the Mt. Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) in Tadian, particularly its administrative, teacher education department, home technology, and library, which incurred minor cracks on walls and columns.

Aggravated wall cracks, meanwhile, were monitored at Pingad Senior High School, Capinitan Elementary School, and the Tourism Information Office in Sabangan.

Additionally, a rip-rap in Bun-ayan in the said town was destroyed, while two residential houses in Libo, Napua, sustained cracks on their walls.

As for the capital town, Bontoc, no major damage reports have been documented in its 16 barangays.

The estimated cost of all the destruction left by the quake is yet to be released.

The Mt. Province MDRRMO advised the public to remain alert, stating, “While PHIVOLCS says that no aftershocks are expected, the public is still advised to be vigilant and calm when ground shaking occurs.”