Twin magnitude 4 quakes strike off Hernani, Eastern Samar

Two successive magnitude 4 earthquakes struck the waters off Hernani, Eastern Samar, on Sunday night, the state seismology agency reported.

According to data from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) latest website bulletin, a magnitude 4.7 earthquake hit offshore near Hernani, followed by a magnitude 4.3 tremor just 11 minutes later.

Both quakes were tectonic in origin and occurred at a depth of at least 10 kilometers.

Phivolcs stated that no damage is expected from the consecutive aftershocks.

Intensity 2 was felt in Borongan, Eastern Samar, and Dulag, Leyte, while Intensity 1 was recorded in Carigara and Abuyog, Leyte.

The agency confirmed that the twin tremors were aftershocks of the magnitude 5.3 offshore earthquake that struck about 45 kilometers northeast of Hernani, Eastern Samar, last Friday night.

During the main quake, Intensity 5 was felt in Balangkayan, General MacArthur, Hernani, Llorente, and Maydolong in Eastern Samar.

Multiple aftershocks followed, with the strongest, a magnitude 5.2 —occurring around 9 a.m. on 15 February.

Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO) personnel in Hernani said they would inspect school buildings and other infrastructure for possible damage on Monday.