Earthquake of 5.8 magnitude hits off Southern Leyte town
MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck off Southern Leyte town on Thursday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.
The state volcanologist initially said in its 7:45 a.m. bulletin that the magnitude was 5.9 but revised the information to 5.8 magnitude in its 8:22 a.m. bulletin.
According to Phivolcs, the quake occurred at 7:39 a.m., with its epicenter located some six kilometers (km) east of San Francisco, Southern Leyte.
The temblor was tectonic in origin and had a depth of focus of 14 km, it added.
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake strikes waters off the shores of San Francisco in Southern Leyte on Thursday morning, January 23, 2025, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Photo from the Official Facebook page of Phivolcs-DOST
The latest Phivolcs bulletin also added the following reported earthquake intensities:
- Intensity VI: San Francisco, Southern Leyte
- Intensity V: Anahawan, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Libagon. Liloan, Padre Burgos, Pintuyan, San Juan, and San Ricardo, Southern Leyte
- Intensity IV: Abuyog, Bato, City of Baybay, Hilongos, Hindang, and Inopacan, Leyte; Bontoc, Limasawa, City of Maasin, Macrohon, Malitbog, Saint Bernard, Silago, Sogod, and Tomas Oppus, Southern Leyte
- Intensity III: City of Cebu; Alangalang, Albuera, Barugo, Burauen, Carigara, Dagami, Dulag, Jaro, Javier, Julita, Kananga, Macarthur, Mahaplag, Mayorga, Merida, Palo, Santa Fe, Tanauan, and Tolosa, Leyte; City of Surigao
- Intensity II: Babatngon, Isabel, and Palompon, Leyte; City of Cagayan de Oro
It likewise enumerated the following earthquake instrumental intensities:
Article continues after this advertisement- Instrumental Intensity V: Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte
- Instrumental Intensity IV: Hinunangan, City of Maasin, and Sogod, Southern Leyte; City of Surigao, Surigao del Norte
- Instrumental Intensity III: Carigara, Dulag, Kanangan, and Palo, Leyte; Ormoc City; City of Cagayan de Oro
- Instrumental Intensity II: City of Roxas, Capiz; City of Bogo, Cebu; Leyte, Leyte; Gandara, Samar; City of Gingoog, Misamis Oriental
- Instrumental Intensity I: San Francisco, Cebu; Can-Avid, Eastern Samar; Mambajao, Camiguin
READ: Magnitude 5.8 earthquake jolts Ilocos Norte
Article continues after this advertisementIn a previous interview with 黑料社, Phivolcs Science Research Analyst Lara Guianan explained that intensity is the power of an earthquake as felt and reported by the affected population, while instrumental intensity is the quake’s strength as measured by an intensity meter or scale.
Phivolcs warned of aftershocks and possible property damage due to this earthquake off San Francisco municipality.
