MANILA, Philippines – A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Southern Leyte, on Thursday morning, January 23, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in a bulletin.
Phivolcs said damage and aftershocks were expected following the tremor, which was tectonic in origin. It struck at a depth of 14 kilometers and happened at 7:39 am, with San Francisco town as the epicenter.
San Francisco police chief Major Barnie Catig said the tremor was brief but strong.
“It was strong, some of the picture frames in our shelves fell off,” Catig said by phone.
Reported intensities
Intensity VI – San Francisco, Southern Leyte
Intensity V – Anahawan, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Libagon, Liloan, Padre Burgos, Pintuyan, San Juan, and San Ricardo, Southern Leyte
Intensity IV – Abuyog, Bato, City of Baybay, Hilongos, Hindang, and Inopacan, Leyte; Bontoc, Limasawa, City of Maasin, Macrohon, Malitbog, Saint Bernard, Silago, Sogod, and Tomas Oppus, Southern Leyte
Intensity III – City of Cebu; Alangalang, Albuera, Barugo, Burauen, Carigara, Dagami, Dulag, Jaro, Javier, Julita, Kananga, Macarthur, Mahaplag, Mayorga, Merida, Palo, Santa Fe, Tanauan, and Tolosa, Leyte; City of Surigao, Surigao del Norte
Intensity II – Babatngon, Isabel, and Palompon, Leyte; City of Cagayan de Oro
Instrumental intensities
Intensity V – Hinundayan, Padre Burgos, and San Juan, Southern Leyte
Intensity IV – Hinunangan, City of Maasin, and Sogod, Southern Leyte; City of Surigao, Surigao del Norte
Intensity III – Carigara, Dulag, Kananga, and Palo, Leyte; Ormoc City; City of Cagayan de Oro
Intensity II – City of Roxas, CAPIZ; City of Bogo, Cebu; Leyte, Leyte; Gandara, Samar; City of Gingoog, Misamis Oriental
Intensity I – San Francisco, Cebu; Can-Avid, Eastern Samar; Mambajao, Camiguin
– With a report from Reuters/Rappler.com