A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Ilocos Norte on Monday morning, 30 December, shaking the region and prompting immediate evacuation protocols in several establishments.

However, conflicting data released by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has left residents confused about the earthquake’s actual intensity and location.

In its initial report (Earthquake Information No. 1), Phivolcs stated that the quake, with a magnitude of 5.8, had a depth of 10 kilometers and was centered 6 kilometers north-northwest of Bangui, Ilocos Norte.

The quake was felt across multiple provinces.

However, a subsequent report (Earthquake Information No. 2) revised the earthquake’s magnitude to 5.6, its depth to 15 kilometers, and relocated the epicenter 48 kilometers north-northwest of Burgos, Ilocos Norte.

The quake was felt across multiple provinces. According to Phivolcs, reported intensities included Intensity V in Sinait and Cabugao, Ilocos Sur and Sarrat, Ilocos Norte. Instrumental measurements also recorded Intensity V in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, and lower intensities in areas as far as Cagayan and Mountain Province.

The conflicting reports have caused confusion and heightened anxiety among residents, especially in affected areas, as they question the accuracy of the information being disseminated.

Local officials, including Ilocos Norte Fire Marshal Fire Superintendent Roxanne Parado, have urged calm and assured the public that disaster response measures are in place. “We’ve been on full alert since December 23 and have prepared for any eventualities,” Parado said in an interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE.