MORE than 1,000 aftershocks were recorded two days after a magnitude 7 earthquake jolted Abra and other parts of Luzon, based on the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s (Phivolcs) record on Friday.

Of the total 1,071 aftershocks recorded, 263 were plotted or located, and 26 were felt. The magnitudes of these aftershocks ranged from 1.5 to 5.

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum Jr. earlier said the strong quake, which was caused by the movement along the Abra River Fault, would generate many aftershocks in the first two to three days.

The number would gradually decrease.

Solidum advised the public to inspect the damaged infrastructure, houses and buildings, and to refrain from staying there for the meantime.

He noted that those in urban areas — where there are more people, investments and infrastructures — should be more prepared.

“Kailangan nating pag-igtingan ang ating kahandaan nito pero huwag nating kalimutan iyong malalakas na paglindol, in less than one minute ay pwedeng makasira ng ating mga gusali, mga bahay, imprastraktura at ng ating ekonomiya,” he said.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, 79,260 individuals in 246 villages in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and the Ilocos Region were affected by the strong quake.

It added that earthquake-affected houses in the Ilocos Region and the CAR reached 1,583. Of these, 1,535 were classified as “partially damaged” and 48 as “totally damaged.”

Severe damage to cultural and heritage sites were also reported. Philippine News Agency

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