MAGNITUDE 4.5 EARTHQUAKE JOLTS BENGUET; BAGUIO CITY RESIDENTS EVACUATE AMID INTENSITY V SHAKING
Photo Courtesy of PHIVOLCS
A moderately strong magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck the mountainous province of Benguet on Thursday afternoon, sending waves of panic through Baguio City and nearby northern provinces.
The tectonic tremor occurred at exactly 2:33 p.m. on July 9, 2026, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). State seismologists located the epicenter approximately 9 kilometers southwest of Tuba, Benguet, tracking its depth at a shallow 11 kilometers.
High Intensity Sparks Mass Evacuations
Due to its shallow depth, the quake registered a strong Instrumental Intensity V in Baguio City. The sudden, violent shaking caused commercial and institutional buildings to sway visibly, triggering automatic fire alarms and emergency protocols.
Thousands of students and workers were forced to flee into the streets. At the Baguio City High School, teachers immediately guided hundreds of students to open campus grounds. A similar scene unfolded at SM City Baguio and along high-density commercial strips like General Luna Road and Assumption Road, where thousands of shoppers, call center employees, and retail staff crowded roadsides and designated safety zones.
Regional Shake Map
The earthquake was felt across a wide expanse of Northern and Central Luzon. PHIVOLCS released the following instrumental intensity ratings:
Intensity V - CITY OF BAGUIO; Tuba, BENGUET; Tubao and Pugo, LA UNION
Intensity IV- City of San Fernando, Rosario, Naguilian, Bagulin, Bauang, Santo Tomas, Agoo and Caba LA UNION; Itogon, La Trinidad, Tublay, Sablan, and Kapangan, BENGUET; Sison, PANGASINAN
Intensity III - CITY OF DAGUPAN; Pozorrubio, Binalonan, City of Urdaneta, Villasis, Calasiao, Mangaladan, Manaoag, Asingan, Tayug and San Manuel, PANGASINAN; Aringay, San Juan, Balaoan, Bangar, and Bacnotan, LA UNION;
Mankayan, Atok and Kabayan, BENGUET; Sagada and Bontoc, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
Intensity II- Lagawe and Banaue, IFUGAO
No Damage Reported, Vulnerable Terrains Monitored
Despite the widespread alarm, local disaster risk reduction and management offices reported no immediate casualties, structural failures, or major infrastructural damage following preliminary inspections.
However, authorities are remaining vigilant. The Region 1 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) quickly issued a public advisory cautioning residents and travelers about the heightened risk of rockfalls and minor landslides along the steep mountain slopes of Benguet and La Union.
PHIVOLCS noted that while the earthquake is not expected to trigger a significant string of severe aftershocks, localized settling tremors remain possible. Local engineering offices are currently conducting thorough structural integrity assessments of bridges, public school facilities, and government hubs before allowing full re-entry.
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