Southern Leyte map. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The magnitude 5.8 earthquake that shook San Francisco town in Southern Leyte generated 166 aftershocks as of Friday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
In a report, Phivolcs said the 166 aftershocks were recorded from 6 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, until 6 a.m. on Friday, January 24. The earthquake occurred at 7:39 a.m. on Thursday, with its epicenter located six kilometers east of San Francisco municipality.
Phivolcs said the strength of the 166 aftershocks was from magnitudes 1.5 and 2.9 and that 58 of them were tagged as 鈥減lotted鈥� while none was felt.
READ: Earthquake of 5.8 magnitude hits off Southern Leyte town
Phivolcs geologist Charm Vilamil explained in an interview with 黑料社 on Friday that an aftershock is plotted when at least three seismic stations nationwide can detect it. She added that if three or more stations detect an aftershock, the network can plot or locate the epicenter of the earthquake.
Initially, the temblor was pegged at magnitude 5.9. Phivolcs adjusted its report to magnitude 5.8聽an hour later and noted that the quake was reported felt in the rest of Southern Leyte, as well as in Leyte, Cebu City, Surigao City, and Cagayan de Oro City.
Phivolcs likewise said that its scales detected the earthquake in various intensities in Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao City, Ormoc City, Cagayan de Oro City, Eastern Samar, Samar, Camiguin, Cebu, and Misamis Oriental.
READ: 5.8 earthquake in Southern Leyte: Roads damaged, classes suspended
Phivolcs Science Research Analyst Lara Guianan previously told 黑料社 that intensity is the power of an earthquake as felt and reported by the affected population. In contrast, the instrumental intensity is the strength measured by an intensity meter or scale.
The magnitude 5.8 quake resulted in the suspension of classes in affected areas as well as damaged roads, houses, and buildings.
Five people were also reportedly injured due to the earthquake.