Quakes jolt Zambo City, S’Leyte

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Employees and clients evacuated the 118-year-old Zamboanga City hall building, as a magnitude 6.1 earthquake of tectonic origin shook this city at 11:41 a.m. yesterday.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported yesterday that the earthquake’s epicenter was Siocon town in Zamboanga del Norte.

The tremor was felt in many areas in the city and part of Isabela City based on reports.

Operations in other offices including schools were also temporarily halted as building occupants were evacuated to safer grounds.

Residents were advised to stay vigilant and monitor updates from Phivolcs and other concerned agencies, as damage and aftershocks are expected, based on Earthquake Information 1 issued by the Phivolcs.

Meanwhile, a strong earthquake likewise jolted Southern Leyte early Thursday morning, leaving a trail of destruction on government infrastructure and private properties.

The Phivolcs the magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck at 7:39 in the morning with the epicenter in San Francisco, Southern Leyte.

Aftershocks

Phivolcs recorded 73 aftershocks until 1:30 p.m. with magnitude ranging from 1.6 to 2.9.

Sher Rysiah Saises, assistant regional director of the Office of Civil Defense in Eastern Visayas, said OCD is now conducting an assessment in the towns of Limawasa, Pintuyan, Padre Burgos, Hinundayan and San Francisco.

Saises said initial reports noted damage to Sangguniang Bayan building and gym in San Francisco town with visible cracks and lines while an elevated asphalt was observed in the town’s national highway.

In Pintuyan town, minor cracks in public buildings and houses were also noted.

The Southern Leyte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said it is closely coordinating with their counterparts in the different municipalities to determine the extent of the damage.