Leyte hit by 6.5 Magnitude Earthquake

The Central Visayas of the Philippines was devastated after a 6.5 magnitude earthquake yesterday at 4:03 pm. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOCS), the center of the earthquake was located eight kilometers southwest of the town in Jaro, Leyte Island.

Damages of the Quake

Since the Philippines is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, it is expected to shake from time to time. The occurrence of the earthquake, more particularly in Leyte, were taken with actions by clear minds of government officials. Once the ground started to shake, the power supply was shut down.

People in the city and other rural areas did not panic and evacuated to the nearest safe grounds. Churches, open fields, stabled building were some of the areas used as temporary evacuation. Tsunami warning has not been raised after the said earthquake. Houses, roads, and poor constructed buildings collapsed throughout the province. Rescue teams are being brought out to the provincial damage.

Aftershock

There is only one aftershock that was recorded by the seismologists. The aftershock was recorded with a magnitude at 3.8 at around 4:13 in the afternoon. According to the Governor of Leyte Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, the earthquake was powerful enough to separate the mountain side of Ormoc City and Canhadugan.

Levels and Areas of the Earthquake:

Intensity VI: Jaro and Kananga and Capoocan, Leyte
Intensity V:  Palo, Leyte; Tacloban City; Cebu City; Mandaue City; Ormoc City
Intensity IV: Catbalogan City; Cabucgayan and Naval, Biliran; Tolosa and Bato, Leyte
Hinunangan, Southern Leyte; Sagay City, Negros Occidental; Burgos, Surigao del Norte;
Biliran, Leyte
Intensity III: Bacolod City; Bogo City and Talisay, Cebu; Roxas City; Iloilo City; Inopacan
and Baybay, Leyte; Sogod, Southern Leyte; Calatrava, Negros Occidental; Tagbilaran
City; Jagna, Bohol; Borongan, Eastern Samar; Guihulngan City and Tayasan, Negros
Oriental; Escalante, Negros Occidental; Cadiz City and Toboso
Intensity II: Libjo, San Jose, Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands; Sorsogon City; Lapu-lapu City;
San Juan, Southern Leyte; Javier, Leyte; Tansay and Sibulan, Negros Oriental; Sorsogon
City
Intensity I: Catarman, Northern Samar; La Carlota City, Negros Occidental