Magnitude 5.1 Earthquake hits Leyte Province

MANILA -A magnitude 5.1 earthquake rattled Leyte province early Wednesday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. The tremor struck 5 kilometers northeast of Albuera, Leyte at 6:26 a.m., the agency said in its website. Phivolcs describes Intensity 5 as “strong.” This intensity may cause shaking throughout buildings and may make hanging objects swing violently.

With a depth of 5 kilometers, the tremor was felt at Intensity 5 in the neighboring town of Ormoc and Albuera, Intensity 4 in Pastrana, and Intensity 3 in Tacloban City and Palo.

“The epicenter is inland and would not be generating any tsunami in the Leyte area. We are verifying if there were significant effects near the epicenter. So far, we have obtained in our unofficial report there were some areas that have suffered some damages but these need to be verified,” Phivolcs director Renato Solidum told radio DZMM.

Phivolcs warned residents of aftershocks.

State seismologists have also received reports that a structure collapsed in Albuera

According to estimates of the NBRRC, there were 56 houses that damaged in Barangay Altavista, Ormoc City. Regional Director Edgar Posadas also said based on initial reports, there are hotels and establishments that suffered cracks in their locations. He also said that all roads are passable in Eastern Visayas based on report by the DPHW.