Panic in Ormoc City after magnitude 5.4 tremor

Customers and personnel at the Gaisano Capital in Ormoc City rush out from the building after a 5.6 magnitude tremor shook the city on Monday morning. Joey Gabieta, INQ

ORMOC CITY—People  went into panic anew after another earthquake hit the area on Monday morning, just four days after a magnitude 6.5 tremor rocked Leyte.

Streets were clogged up with vehicles as people ran out to the streets to look for a place.

Some people were crying in fear.

At least 24 students were sent to a medical center put up by the city because they were hyperventilating.

The  magnitude 5.4 tremor occurred around 9:45 a.m. and had its epicenter in Ormoc.

It happened at a time when  city officials were  preparing for a meeting to discuss a rehabilitation plan due to the devastation caused by the July 7 earthquake.

Ormoc Mayor Richard Gomez urged the public to stay calm.

He said the meeting would proceed while classes would continue although some schools opted to send their students home. JE/rga