Magnitude 5.8 earthquake rattles Southern Leyte

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A magnitude 5.8 earthquake (earlier report was magnitude 5.9) shook the province of Southern Leyte on Thursday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said the tremor happened around 7:39 a.m. some six kilometers (kms) southeast of San Francisco town, also in the same province.

Tectonic in origin, the earthquake has a depth of focus of 11 kms, he said.

Intensity 6 in San Francisco

Phivolcs said Intensity 6 was felt by San Francisco residents in Southern Leyte while Intensity 5 in Ubay, Bohol; and Anahawan, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Libagon, Liloan, Limasawa, Padre Burgos, Pintuyan, San Juan, and San Ricardo, also in Southern Leyte.

Meanwhile, Intensity 4 was felt in President Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol; Abuyog, Bato, City of Baybay, Hilongos, Hindang, Inopacan, and Matalom, Leyte; Bontoc, City of Maasin, Macrohon, Malitbog, Saint Bernard, Silago, Sogod, and Tomas Oppus, Southern Leyte; Basilisa, Cagdianao, Dinagat, Libjo, Loreto, San Jose, and Tubajon, Dinagat Islands; and Mainit, Surigao del Norte.

Intensity 3 was felt in Cebu City; Balangiga, and Lawaan, Eastern Samar; Alangalang, Albuera, Barugo, Burauen, Capoocan, Carigara, Dagami, Dulag, Jaro, Javier, Julita, Kananga, La Paz, Macarthur, Mahaplag, Mayorga, Merida, Palo, Pastrana, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Tolosa, and Tunga, Leyte; Ormoc City; Tacloban City; Basey, Pinabacdao, Santa Rita, Talalora, and Villareal, Samar; and Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.

Phivolcs said Intensity 2 was felt by residents in Tubigon, Bohol; Catmon, Danao City, City of Naga, and City of Talisay, Cebu; Lapu-lapu City; Manadaue City; Balangkayan, City of Borongan, General Macarthur, Guiuan, Hernani, Llorente, Maydolong, Mercedes, Salcedo, San Julian, and Sulat, Eastern Samar; Babatngon, Calubian, Isabel, Leyte, Matag-Ob, Palompon, San Isidro, Tabango, and Villaba, Leyte; Calbiga, City of Catbalogan, Hinabangan, Jiabong, Marabut, Motiong, Paranas, San Jorge, and Tarangnan, Samar; Cagayan de Oro City; and Malimono, Placer, San Benito, and Tagana-An, Surigao del Norte.

Intensity 1 was felt in Argao, Borbon, City of Carcar, Carmen, Compostela, Consolacion, Dalaguete, Liloan, Minglanilla, San Francisco, and Sogod, Cebu; and Burgos, Dapa, Del Carmen, Pilar, San Isidro, and Sison, Surigao del Norte, it added.

On one hand, instrumental intensity 5 was recorded over Hinundayan, Padre Burgos, and San Juan, Southern Leyte while Intensity 4 in Burauen, Leyte; Hinunangan, City of Maasin, and Sogod, Southern Leyte; and City of Surigao, Surigao del Norte.

Reports said Instrumental Intensity 3 was recorded in Carigara, Dulag, Kananga, and Palo, Leyte; Ormoc City; and Cagayan de Oro City while Intensity 2 in City of Roxas, Capiz; City of Bogo, Danao City, and City of Talisay, Cebu; Leyte, Leyte; Gandara, Samar; and City of Gingoog, Misamis Oriental and Intensity I in San Francisco, Cebu; Lapu-lapu City; Naval, Biliran; Can-Avid, Eastern Samar; and Mambajao, Camiguin.

Both damage to infrastructure and aftershocks were expected from the latest Southern Leyte earthquake, the Phivolcs chief said.

Magnitude measures the energy released from the source of the quake, while intensity gives out the strength of shaking produced by the earthquake at a certain location.

Classes suspended

Maasin City Mayor Nacional Mercado, meanwhile, issued Executive Order No. 2 on Thursday, suspending classes in all levels of both public and private schools within the city to guarantee children's safety and welfare following an Intensity 4 earthquake in Maasin.

"Our City Engineer and concerned personnel are hereby directed to conduct an inspection and assessment of the structural integrity of all school buildings and government offices within our locality," Mercado said.

The provincial government of Southern Leyte has alerted the public that the roads in Amaga and Himay-angan villages, as well as other highways in the municipality of Liloan, are not passable due to fallen debris and cracks created by the earthquake.

Residents and travelers are advised to avoid these areas for safety.

Cebu City affected

The earthquake has also prompted significant safety actions in Cebu City, including class suspensions and structural assessments.

Cebu Normal University (CNU) announced the suspension of classes at all levels on Jan. 23 to prioritize the safety of its students and staff.

The university posted the announcement on its official Facebook page, following initial reports of the earthquake's impact in nearby regions.

The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) also mobilized its Quick Response Teams (QRTs) to inspect public schools across the city. Teams were deployed in groups to assess the structural integrity of school buildings and identify any potential risks.

The assessments, the CCDRRMO said, would help ensure that the facilities remain safe for students and staff.

Inspectors plan to submit their findings to the Office of the Building Official (OBO) for further review and approval. Officials emphasized the importance of staying vigilant and reporting visible damages to ensure timely responses.

Quake in Zamboanga

Later in the day, at 11:41 a.m., a magnitude 6.1 earthquake shook Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte. The quake had a depth of 32 kilometers, with its epicenter located 2 kilometers south and 8° east of Siocon.

Instrumental Intensity 4 was recorded in Zamboanga City, highlighting the day's successive seismic events. Authorities in both Cebu City and affected regions continue to monitor for aftershocks while conducting detailed inspections.

So far, no casualties or significant damage have been reported.

Tectonic in origin, Bacolcol said it has a depth of focus of 43 kms. WITH REPORTS FROM MOISES CRUZ, KAISER JAN FUENTES AND NESTOR ABREMATEA