Negros was shook by a magnitude-6.9 earthquake before noon Monday, February 6, 2012.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology bulletin, the earthquake was recorded at 11:49 AM. The epicenter was traced to 5 kilometers northwest of Tayasan, Negros Oriental. It was Tectonic in origin.
The earthquake was felt at:
- Intensity VII - Dumaguete City; Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental
- Intensity VI - La Carlota City and La Castellana, Negros Occidental; Argao, Cebu
- Intensity V - Roxas City; Dao and Ivisan, Capiz; Iloilo City; Ayungon, Negros Oriental; Kanlaon City; Lapu-lapu City; Guimaras; Cebu City; San Carlos City;
Bacolod City; Sagay City; Tagbilaran City; Candoni, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental - Intensity IV - San Jose de Buenavista, Pandan, Anini-y, Patnungon, Antique; Kalibo, Aklan; Dipolog City; Sipalay, Negros Occidental; Ormoc City
- Intensity III - Butuan City, Agusan del Norte; Legaspi City, Albay; Carmen, Cagayan de Oro; Tacloban City; Catbalogan; Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte;
Masbate, Masbate; Cagayan de Oro City - Intensity II - Cabid-an, Sorsogon; Borongan, Eastern Samar; Mambajao, Camiguin;
- Intensity I - Pagadian City
Another earthquake was felt less than an hour after that. A weaker magnitude-5.3 quake was felt in the same area at exactly 12:20. The epicenter was traced to 25 kilometers northwest of Tayasan.
Although no casualties were initially reported, NDRRMC director Benito Ramos confirmed that a wall collapsed in Tanayan resulting to the death of a child.
Tsunami warning alert level 2 was raised. People near the coastline should not go as near as 20 meters to the water as a precautionary measure. The alert level will be lowered if no aftershocks were felt with the next few hours.
