Magnitude 5.6 earthquake hits Eastern Samar

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology is expecting aftershocks after recording a magnitude 5.6 earthquake in Eastern Samar on Thursday afternoon.

In its earthquake bulletin, Phivolcs said the tremor, tectonic in origin, hit at 2:50 a.m. with the epicenter tracked at 1.54° north, 126.28° east, about 74 kilometers east of Hernani in Eastern Samar.

Phivolcs recorded Intensity 5 in Hernani and Llorente; Intensity 4 in Gen. MacArthur, Balangkayan, Maydolong, Salcedo and Borongan City; Intensity 3 in Quinapondan, San Julian, Sulat, Taft, Mercedes, Guiuan, Giporlos, Lawaan and Balangiga, as well as Tacloban City in Leyte.

Meanwhile, Intensity 2 hit Can-avid, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpo; Palo, Tanauan, Dulag, Babatngon, San Miguel, Pastrana, Barugo, Carigara, Tabontabon, and Julita in Leyte; Basey and Santa Rita in Samar

Other Instrumental Intensities were recorded in Quinapondan, Can-Avid in Eastern Samar; Villaba, Abuyog, Calubian, Carigara, and Leyte at Intensity 2.

Intensity 1 was logged in Mahaplag, Javier and Hilongos in Leyte; Rosario in Northern Samar; and Hinunangan in Southern Leyte.

Phivolcs said no damages have so far been recorded.