A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck La Union at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 9, with its epicenter located 2 kilometers northeast of Pugo, La Union, at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
The quake, tectonic in origin, was caused by the movement of an active fault near the area.
The tremor was strongly felt in Baguio City at Intensity V, prompting Mayor Benjamin Magalong to suspend classes from pre-school to K-12.
University-level classes were left to the discretion of school administrators.
Neighboring towns in Benguet province also canceled classes as a precaution.
Phivolcs recorded Intensity III shaking in Aringay, La Union; Bontoc, Mountain Province; and Sison, Pangasinan.
Intensity II was felt in San Fernando, La Union; Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija; and Dagupan City, Pangasinan, while Intensity I was experienced in Lingayen and Urdaneta City, both in Pangasinan.
No injuries or structural damage were reported as of posting time.
However, technical personnel from the City Buildings and Architecture Office in Baguio have begun coordinating with administrators of schools, malls, and other buildings to assess structural integrity.
Phivolcs stated that while minor damage is possible, aftershocks are not expected. (Ellalyn Ruiz and Zaldy Commanda)
