Magnitude 5.8 earthquake strikes off Abuyog, Leyte

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology says that a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck off the waters of Abuyog, Leyte on Friday evening. It was earlier reported by the state seismologist as magnitude of 6.0. located near the waters of Dulag. (Photo courtesy of Phivolcs)

MANILA, Philippines (Updated) — A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the waters off Abuyog, Leyte, on Friday evening, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

It was earlier reported by the state seismologist as having a magnitude 6.0 and located near the waters of Dulag.

READ: Shallow 4.0-magnitude quake sways Southern Leyte town

The quake occurred at 6:16 p.m. 39 kilometers (km) northeast of Abuyog.

Phivolcs said it was tectonic in origin and had a depth of focus of 10 km.

Reported Intensities were felt in the following areas:

• Intensity VI – Abuyog, Leyte
• Intensity V – Burauen, Dulag, La Paz, MacArthur, Mahaplag, Mayorga, Tabontabon,
  Tanauan, and Tolosa, Leyte; Hinunangan, Hinundayan, and Silago, Southern Leyte
• Intensity IV – Jagna, Bohol; Balangiga, Balangkayan, City of Borongan, General Macarthur, Giporlos, Guiuan, Hernani, Lawaan, Llorente, Maydolong, Mercedes, Quinapondan, Salcedo, and San Julian, Eastern Samar; Alangalang, Albuera, Babatngon, Barugo, Bato, City of Baybay, Calubian, Capoocan, Carigara, Dagami, Hilongos, Hindang, Inopacan, Jaro, Javier, Julita, Kananga, Palo, Pastrana, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tunga, and Villaba, Leyte; Ormoc City; City of Tacloban; Basey, Calbiga, Santa Rita, and Villareal, Samar; Anahawan, Bontoc, Libagon, Malitbog, Saint Bernard, San Juan, Sogod, and Tomas Oppus, Southern Leyte; Basilisa, Cagdianao, Dinagat, Libjo, Loreto, San Jose, and Tubajon, Dinagat Islands
• Intensity III – City of Tagbilaran, Bohol; Can-Avid, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpo, Sulat, and Taft, Eastern Samar; Leyte, Matag-Ob, Matalom, Merida, San Isidro, and Tabango, Leyte; Catubig, Lapinig, and Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar; Hinabangan, Jiabong, Motiong, and San Sebastian, Samar; Liloan, City of Maasin, Macrohon, Padre Burgos, and San Francisco, Southern Leyte; City of Surigao, Surigao del Norte
• Intensity II – Argao, City of Bogo, City of Carcar, Poro, and San Francisco, Cebu; City of Cebu; Almeria, Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Culaba, Kawayan, and Naval, Biliran; Arteche, Jipapad, and Maslog, Eastern Samar; Isabel, and Palompon, Leyte; Gamay, Mapanas, and Palapag, Northern Samar; City of Catbalogan, Gandara San Jorge, and San Jose De Buan, Samar; Limasawa, Pintuyan, and San Ricardo, Southern Leyte
• Intensity I – City of Danao, Minglanilla, City of Naga, Sibonga, and City of Talisay, Cebu

Meanwhile, Instrumental Intensities were recorded in the following areas:

• Intensity VI – Abuyog and Dulag, Leyte
• Intensity V – Burauen and Mahaplag, Leyte; Hinunangan and Hinundayan, Southern Leyte
• Intensity IV – Quinapondan, Eastern Samar; Alangalang, Hilongos, Javier, and Palo, Leyte; Basey, Samar; Sogod, Southern Leyte
• Intensity III – Albuera, Calubian, and Carigara, Leyte; City of Cebu; San Francisco and San Juan, Southern Leyte; Can-Avid, Eastern Samar; Gandara and Marabut, Samar; City of Surigao, Surigao del Norte; Talibon, Bohol
• Intensity II – Isabel and Villaba, Leyte; San Jorge and Villareal, Samar; Maasin, Southern Leyte; Argao, City of Bogo, City of Carcar, Danao City, and San Francisco, Cebu
• Intensity I – Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte; Kawayan, Biliran; City of Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte; Mapanas, Northern Samar; City of Naga and San Fernando, Cebu; City of Lapu-Lapu; Bulusan, Sorsogon

READ: Getting ready for the ‘Big One’ 

Instrumental intensity is measured by an intensity meter or scale, while intensity is the strength of an earthquake as felt and reported by the population, as Phivolcs explained previously.

Phivolcs said that aftershocks and damage to properties are expected.