Dawn quake rocks Cebu

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.