TACLOBAN CITY – A magnitude 5 earthquake shook parts of Leyte and Samar provinces on Wednesday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.
There was no expected damage from the temblor that struck 14 kilometers northwest of Basey, Samar at 9:07 a.m. at a depth of 99 kilometers.
The earthquake with tectonic origin was felt at Intensity IV in Basey and Sta. Rita towns in Samar, and Tacloban City in Leyte. Intensity III in Catbalogan City, Samar; Barugo, Palo, and Pastrana, in Leyte; and Lawaan in Eastern Samar.
The ground-shaking was also felt at Intensity II in Abuyog, Capoocan, Carigara, Dagami, Dulag, Jaro, Javier, and Tabontabon in Leyte; and Borongan City, General MacArthur and Maydolong in Eastern Samar.
Magnitude measures the energy released from the source of the quake, while intensity measures the strength of shaking produced by the tremor at a certain location.
Initial reports showed no one was hurt during the quake.
Meanwhile in Batanes, the quake struck 66 kilometers southeast of Sabtang at 10:01 a.m. at a depth of 88 kilometers.
Intensity III was recorded in Basco, Ivana, Mahatao, Uyugan and Basco, Batanes; Calayan, Cagayan; and Intensity II in Itbayat, Batanes.
Aftershocks are possible while damages are not expected from the two earthquake events, Phivolcs said. (With reports by Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA)