A shallow tectonic earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 jolted communities across the Bicol Region late Friday evening, June 5, 2026, sending residents scrambling and rattling structures across multiple provinces from Albay to as far as Northern Samar. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS-DOST) has warned that both property damage and follow-on aftershocks are to be expected in the wake of the event.
Quake Details: Location, Time, and Depth
According to PHIVOLCS-DOST, the earthquake was recorded at precisely 9:57:58 PM Philippine Standard Time (PHT) on June 5, 2026. The agency pinpointed the epicenter at coordinates 13.21°N, 123.92°E — approximately 15 kilometers south-southeast of Santo Domingo, Albay. The tremor was tectonic in origin, meaning it resulted from the movement of geological faults rather than volcanic activity.
Of particular concern is the earthquake’s shallow focus. PHIVOLCS-DOST reported a focal depth of only 9 kilometers, which significantly amplifies the energy felt at the surface and increases the potential for structural damage in nearby communities. The bulletin covering this event was designated Earthquake Information No. 2, released by PHIVOLCS at 10:46 PM PHT on the same evening.
Widespread Shaking Felt Across Bicol and Beyond
PHIVOLCS-DOST documented ground shaking across a broad swath of the region using the PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS). Reports came in from residents and trained observers as well as from the agency’s network of seismic instruments, painting a picture of a tremor whose reach extended well beyond the immediate epicentral area.
Observed Intensities (Resident and Observer Reports)
The strongest shaking felt by residents was recorded at Intensity V — described as strong enough to be felt by nearly everyone, awakening many from sleep, and causing some objects to fall. This level was reported in Santo Domingo and the City of Legazpi, both in Albay.
Intensity IV shaking, classified as moderately strong and widely felt — with rattling windows, doors, and noticeably swinging hanging objects — was reported across a wider zone. Affected areas included the City of Tabaco, City of Ligao, and Malilipot in Albay, as well as Cogon, Irosin, and Donsol in Sorsogon.
Intensity III shaking, described as weak to moderate and felt by many people indoors with vibrations similar to a passing truck, was reported in the City of Naga and Malinao in Albay, and in the City of Sorsogon, Prieto Diaz, and Juban in Sorsogon.
At the lower end of the scale, Intensity II — slight shaking felt by only a few persons — was reported in Goa, Camarines Sur, and Bulan, Sorsogon.
Instrumental Intensity Recordings
Beyond what residents physically felt, PHIVOLCS-DOST seismic instruments captured additional intensity readings that in some cases exceeded the observer-reported levels. Notably, instruments in Tabaco, Albay registered Intensity VI — classified as very strong shaking, capable of prompting many people to run outdoors, moving heavy furniture, and causing slight to moderate damage to ordinary structures.
The agency’s instruments also recorded Intensity V in Castilla, Sorsogon; Intensity IV in the City of Sorsogon and in Iriga City, Camarines Sur; and Intensity III readings in Prieto Diaz (Sorsogon), Monreal (Masbate), and several Camarines Sur localities including Sagnay, Sipocot, Pili, and Mercedes.
The farthest instrumental readings reached Intensity II, recorded in Pasacao and Ragay in Camarines Sur, Milagros in Masbate, and in San Roque and Gandara in Northern Samar, demonstrating the tremor’s considerable geographic reach.
Damage Assessment and Aftershock Risk
PHIVOLCS-DOST has explicitly stated in its bulletin that damage is expected as a consequence of this earthquake. This assessment aligns with the instrumental reading of Intensity VI in Tabaco, Albay — a threshold at which slight to moderate structural damage to ordinary buildings is considered probable. Local authorities in affected municipalities are expected to conduct rapid damage assessments in the aftermath.
The agency has likewise confirmed that aftershocks are anticipated and that residents throughout all areas that experienced shaking should remain alert for additional ground movement. PHIVOLCS-DOST stressed the importance of public vigilance in the hours and days following any significant seismic event of this nature.
Safety Guidance from PHIVOLCS
In line with standard post-earthquake protocols, PHIVOLCS-DOST advised the public to remain calm once shaking stops and to carefully inspect their surroundings before resuming normal activity. Residents are urged to check walls, ceilings, columns, and staircases for visible cracks or signs of structural compromise before re-entering any building that experienced strong tremors.
The agency also reminded the public to be mentally and physically prepared for aftershocks, which are a natural and expected consequence of a significant seismic event. Anyone in the affected zones should have an emergency plan in place, keep emergency supplies accessible, and monitor official government channels for updates.
PHIVOLCS-DOST noted that Earthquake Information No. 2, issued at 10:46 PM PHT on June 5, 2026, represents the agency’s formal bulletin on this event, and that no further bulletins will be released unless new or updated information warrants one. An epicentral map accompanying the bulletin is available on the PHIVOLCS official website.
Where to Get Official Updates
The public is advised to monitor PHIVOLCS-DOST directly for any subsequent advisories or aftershock reports. The agency’s official website is phivolcs.dost.gov.ph, where bulletins, intensity maps, and real-time seismic data are regularly published. Local government units in Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Masbate, and Northern Samar are also expected to provide their own situational updates through their respective disaster risk reduction offices.
All factual data in this report is drawn exclusively from PHIVOLCS-DOST Earthquake Information No. 2, officially released on June 5, 2026, at 10:46 PM PHT.
Source: PHIVOLCS-DOST / wire reports
