Over 500 aftershocks recorded after Leyte quake

MANILA, Philippines -  More than 500 aftershocks were recorded from the magnitude-6.5 earthquake that hit Leyte on Thursday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

As of noon yesterday, there were 574 aftershocks registered, 11 of which were reportedly felt, Phivolcs director Renato Solidum Jr. said.

“(The number of) felt aftershocks may be underreported,” Solidum told The STAR.

At 2 p.m. yesterday, an aftershock measuring magnitude 3.7 hit 16 kilometers northeast of Ormoc City, Leyte. It was felt at Intensity 5 in Ormoc City and Intensity 3 in Capoocan, Leyte.

 Phivolcs had warned aftershocks may continue to occur for several days to weeks.

 Solidum has also warned of landslides and collapsing buildings as aftershocks continue to rattle the province.

 Solidum, together with members of the Phivolcs Quick Response Team, visited Kananga and Ormoc over the weekend to assess the damage caused by the quake.

Philvocs is conducting geologic hazards and impact assessment, house and building impact assessment, crustal and fault monitoring by GPS as well as information and education campaign in affected areas.

Solidum said a ground rupture or fault was confirmed in Barangay Tongonan, Ormoc, the hardest-hit area by the quake.

“We are currently assessing barangays with landslide threat as a result of tension cracks formed during shaking,” he added.

The magnitude-6.5 quake, which was felt strongest in Jaro and Kananga at Intensity 6, damaged several structures and caused power interruption in some areas.

 A man was killed when a three-story building in Kananga that housed a grocery store and a pension inn collapsed. In Ormoc City, an 18-year-old woman died after being hit by falling debris.

In an interview with  dzXL yesterday, Kananga Mayor Rowena Codilla said residents prefer assistance in housing instead of food packs. She said they evacuated 73 families following the quake.