4.9 magnitude quake hits Biliran capital

TACLOBAN CITY—Several residents of the capital town of Naval in Biliran ran to the streets on Wednesday night after a 4.9 magnitude earthquake hit the municipality and some parts of Leyte.

Flor Jackson of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) based in Naval told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that several residents scampered out of their houses.

“They fear being hit by falling cabinets and other décor inside their houses,” she told the Inquirer in a text message.

The Office of Civil Defense in Eastern Visayas has not received a report of any damage caused by the earthquake, said Cherelyn Lubang, OCD-8 administrative officer in a text message.

The earthquake, which was tectonic in origin, was recorded at 7:09 p.m., said Myra Dolina of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) in Tacloban.

Its epicenter was traced 3 kilometers south of Naval, she added.

Dolina said the earthquake was recorded at Intensity 4 in Naval, Kawayan, Culaba and Biliran, all in Biliran; and in towns of Calubian and Leyte, both in Leyte.

Intensity 3 earthquake was felt in Kananga town in Leyte; Intensity 2 in Palompon and Matag-ob towns as well as Tacloban, also in Leyte.

The earthquake was recorded at Intensity 1 in Cebu City.

Intensity 4 means most of the people indoors would feel the shaking, hanging objects swing, and parked cars outside would rock.  Intensity 3 means many people indoors would feel the movement and hanging objects would swing but only a few outside could feel the shaking.  Intensity 2 means the earthquake is felt by people at rest indoors and those on the higher floors of buildings.  Intensity 1 means hardly anybody feels the shaking.