SOUTHERN LEYTE EARTHQUAKE: 166 AFTERSHOCKS, INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGED, AND 5 INJURED

Aftershocks, infrastructure damages, and injuries were recorded in Southern Leyte after a magnitude 5.8 strike the area (Photo courtesy of Kennlochel Borbonga Rovelo)

The magnitude 5.8 earthquake that shook San Francisco town in Southern Leyte on Thursday generated more than 160 aftershocks according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

In a report, Phivolcs said it has recorded a total of 166 aftershocks from 6 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, until 6 a.m. on Friday, January 24. The magnitude of these aftershocks ranged from 1.5 to 2.9 and most are located in the epicenter San Francisco.

The earthquake occurred at 7:39 a.m. on Thursday, with its epicenter located six kilometers east of San Francisco municipality. The quake was reported felt in the rest of Southern Leyte, as well as in Leyte, Cebu City, Surigao City, and Cagayan de Oro City.

In light of this development, Mayor Jonna Adan of Liloan, Southern Leyte ordered the suspension of classes at all levels in public and private schools on Friday. The town is about 19.4 kilometers away from the epicenter, which remains affected by the aftershocks.

The provincial government issued an advisory on Thursday informing the public that roads in the villages of Amaga and Himay-angan, as well as other roads in Liloan, were rendered impassable due to fallen debris and severe cracks after the quake.

Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado said five people were injured while 191 houses were damaged following the 5.8-magnitude earthquake. Damages to infrastructure includes school, barangay hall, roads, and bridge.

Phivolcs explained that the Southern Leyte tremor was triggered by the movement of a local active fault in the area. It noted that aftershocks could “persist for several days to months.” It reminded affected residents to exercise caution amid potential environmental hazards resulting from this major quake.

“Southern Leyte and its neighboring provinces experience earthquakes as they are situated in one of the seismically active regions in the archipelago. The presence of onshore and offshore active faults, particularly the Philippine fault and its segments, generates high seismicity in the area,” it explained.

Citing a report from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Mercado said no one is staying at evacuation centers at present.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

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