Leyte Rocked by 5.8 Magnitude Earthquake, Causing Infrastructure Damage

A powerful earthquake struck Leyte, Philippines, on Thursday morning, causing damage to buildings and roads. 

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that the earthquake, which had a magnitude of 5.8, struck at 7:39 am local time. The epicenter was located 6 kilometers southeast of San Francisco, Southern Leyte, at a depth of 14 kilometers. Phivolcs downgraded the quake to a magnitude of 5.8 in its following report, classifying it as strong with potential for slight damage.

However, the earthquake caused significant damage to infrastructure in Southern Leyte. In San Francisco, the Sangguniang Bayan building and gym sustained cracks. In Pintuyan, we observed minor cracks in public buildings and some houses. The earthquake also triggered a landslide, although it was far from any populated areas.

The earthquake also caused damage to roads in Himay-angan, Liloan. There were elevated sections of asphalt on the national highway, along with reports of cracked asphalt and buckled sections of road.

Residents in Cebu City reported feeling the earthquake for several seconds. However, there were no immediate reports of damage in the city.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, authorities are urging residents to be vigilant and to be prepared for aftershocks. They are also advising people to stay away from damaged buildings and to check for any cracks or other damage to their homes.