The 6.5-magnitude quake that hit Jaro, Leyte Thursday afternoon may not be considered as a “major earthquake,” Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Director Renato Solidum Jr. said.
“Well, kung sa category, hindi pa ‘yan major earthquake (According to the category, it’s not a major earthquake),” Solidum said in a radio interview over DZMM.
“Maaalala niyo noong February 10, [magnitude] 6.5 ‘yung sa Surigao del Norte. So itong [magnitude] 6.5, well, a strong earthquake, pero sa mga rural areas, hindi talaga ‘yan damaging. Pero kung ‘yan ay ilagay sa Metro Manila ay marami po ang epekto,” said the Phivolcs chief.
(It can be remembered that last February 10, a 6.5-magnitude quake also rocked Surigao del Norte. So this magnitude 6.5, well, a strong earthquake, but in rural areas, it is not a damaging one. But it would leave many effects if it would be in Metro Manila.)
A quake shall only be categorized as “major” if it is at least magnitude 7 or greater, according to Solidum.
Even President Rodrigo Duterte himself shrugged off the Visayas earthquake.
“Wala namang sira. Mahina ‘yun. By this time, it could have cost much,” Duterte said in a live interview with the press during his visit to the troops of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army at Camp Bahian in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
(There is no damage. It is weak.)
However, at least 10 people were injured and several others trapped when a commercial building in Kananga town collapsed. A body was also recovered from the fallen building.
READ: Leyte quake: Kananga town building collapses; 10 injured, many trapped
“And actually…nobody but nobody can foretell a disaster. That’s why in the insurance business, disasters are called or categorized an ‘act of God,’” the President said.
Asked what his message was to the people affected by the Leyte earthquake, “Well, we are doing everything we can. The military is doing its utmost. I am spending most of my time here,” said Duterte. Renz Paolo B. Regis, INQUIRER.net trainee/JE
READ: Body recovered from collapsed building after Leyte quake