Phivolcs Releases Bulletin about the Earthquake in Negros Occidental, May 17, 2025
EARTHQUAKE – The Phivolcs recorded a 5.2 magnitude quake in Negros Occidental today, May 17, 2025. Here are the details.
Following the 4.5 magnitude quake in Batanes a few days ago, another significant quake was recently recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) in another province. According to the agency, the quake recently hit Negros Occidental and it has a magnitude of 5.2.
The earthquake that struck Negros Occidental, May 17, 2025, was tectonic in origin. A tectonic quake is a shaking which is a product when the Earth’s crust breaks because of the geological forces on the rocks and the adjoining plates which result to chemical and physical changes.
According to Phivolcs, the earthquake that hit a part of Negros Occidental was located at 09.89°North, 122.01°East – 048 km North 73° West of City of Sipalay. It had a depth of focus of 010 kilometers.
Phivolcs stated in its bulletin that damages are not expected from the said quake but there may be aftershocks. According to the quake-recording agency, no instrumental intensities were recorded at the epicenter of the quake as well as the nearby areas. The following instrumental intensities were recorded in these areas:
Intensity I
- Culasi and San Jose City, ANTIQUE
- City of Roxas, CAPIZ
- Nueva Valencia, GUIMARAS
- City of Passi , ILOILO
Intensity II
- Anini’y, ANTIQUE
- Argao City, CEBU
- CITY OF ILOILO
- La Carlota City, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL
Earthquakes can hardly be predicted accurately as most experts in the field agree on. Thus, most countries really make sure that they have a bureau or an organization that monitors a quake incident across their nation.
Quakes can happen in land and underwater. In the case of the latter, it can trigger tsunami thus quake-recording agencies are also often the one that monitors tsunami threats. They are the bodies releasing advisories whenever there are threats of tsunami following a strong quake shaking the land in the coastal area or underwater.
On land, quakes can result to damages and loss of lives thus it is important to be aware of the earthquake safety tips to reduce the risk of damages and loss of lives by knowing what to do.