■ EARTHQUAKES FELT IN CEBU; NO REPORTED DEATHS, ONLY CRACKS ON CLASSROOMS

Ten tremors, ranging from magnitude 2.2 to 3.6, were felt in Cebu in a span of 14 hours yesterday. No casualty was reported, but the earthquake left hairline cracks on the walls of at least 22 classrooms in Asturias town. The epicenter of all the quakes, which were tectonic in origin, was located in Asturias, on the western coast of Cebu, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs). The strongest quake at magnitude 3.6 was felt at 3:43 a.m. in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu and in the neighboring towns. The last quake was recorded at 5:01 p.m.

Some 22 classrooms in different barangays of Asturias suffered hairline cracks when several tremors struck the western town and other parts of Cebu yesterday.

The neighboring town of Balamban suspended classes in all levels.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs), 10 tremors, which were tectonic in origin, rocked the province. The epicenter was in Asturias. The strongest quake, with a magnitude of 3.6, struck at 3:43 a.m. It was felt in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu and in neighboring towns.

This was followed by another one at 3:43 a.m., with a magnitude 3.3.

Several aftershocks were felt throughout the day.

A magnitude 3.4 quake struck at 4:08 p.m. while SunStar Cebu was on the phone with Asturias Mayor Anthony Pintor.

Based on Philvolcs data, the last quake was recorded at 5:01 with a magnitude of 2.8.

Pintor said classes were not suspended in Asturias after municipal engineers declared the school buildings safe after an inspection.

Hairline cracks were spotted in four classrooms in Barangay Owak and five classrooms in Barangay Poblacion.

Similar cracks were also seen in four classrooms in Barangay Looc Norte, three classrooms in an elementary school in Barangay Santa Lucia and two classrooms each in Barangays Langub, Tubigagmanok and New Bago.

“Most of the schools are near the shore,” Pintor said in Cebuano.

In Balamban, Mayor Ace Stefan Binghay said they checked schools and government buildings, and asked power and water utility companies to inspect power lines and pipes, but there was no damage.

“We just suspended classes to be sure,” Binghay said in Cebuano. Classes will resume today.

Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office spokesperson Jules Regner encouraged local government units to join a simultaneous earthquake drill at 9 a.m. on March 31.

Regner and the rest of the team checked the situation in the quake-affected towns.

“Every house should have a contingency plan. Preparation should start at home,” he said. /