The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded a magnitude-5.8 tectonic earthquake at 6:16 p.m. on Friday. Its epicenter was located about 36 kilometers northeast off the waters of Abuyog, Leyte.
Phivolcs said the tremor struck at a depth of 10 kilometers. It was strongly felt at Intensity 5 in Abuyog and neighboring towns namely Burauen, Dulag, La Paz, Macarthur, Mahaplag, Tabontabon and Tolosa in Leyte as well as Hinunangan, Hinundayan, and Silago in Southern Leyte.
Listed at Intensity 4 were the areas of Jagna, Bohol; Balangiga, Borongan City, General Macarthur, Giporlos, Hernani, Lawaan, Llorente and Quinapondan, Eastern Samar; Barugo, Baybay City, Calubian, Dagami, Hilongos, Jaro, Javier, Julita, Kananga, Palo, Pastrana, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Ormoc City and Tacloban City, Leyte; Basey, Samar; Bontoc, Malitbog and Sogod, Southern Leyte.
The quake also rattled Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Surigao City, Surigao del Norte; Bogo City, Cebu and Pintuyan, Southern Leyte. The quake was strong that state seismologists advised affected residents to expect damage and aftershocks.
Phivolcs initially reported the tremor at magnitude-6.0, but downgraded it to 5.8 in its second bulletin. The United States Geological Survey measured it at magnitude-5.7. No untoward incidents have been reported yet as of this posting.