A magnitude 5.6 earthquake shook Cagayan province in the northern Philippines on Thursday morning, March 23. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that the quake was tectonic in origin and occurred at a depth of 15 kilometers. The epicenter was located 17 kilometers northwest of Dalupiri Island in Calayan.
The quake was felt as moderate shaking near the epicenter and as light shaking across other parts of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Ilocos Region. No tsunami warning was issued by Phivolcs or any other agency.
As of this writing, there have been no reports of casualties or damage caused by the quake. However, Phivolcs warned that aftershocks are possible and advised residents to stay alert and follow safety precautions.
The Philippines is situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire“, a zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to the movement of tectonic plates. The country experiences an average of 20 earthquakes per day, most of which are not felt by humans.