Nearly 300 aftershocks recorded after Leyte quake

Nearly 300 aftershocks have been recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) as of Friday afternoon, a day after the island of Leyte was rocked by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake.

In a Facebook post, PHIVOLCS said its seismic monitoring network recorded 297 aftershocks as of 1 p.m. of July 7.

The suceeding small-magnitude eathquakes may continue to occur for several days to weeks, but only some of them may be felt, it said.

PHIVOLCS reminded Leyte residents to be cautious of structures visibly weakened or damaged by the quake, as they may be further damaged by the aftershocks.

It also urged engineers to inspect affected infrastructure and recommend appropriate actions.

"In case of houses and other buildings with visible damage, it is best to contact the Municipal/City Engineering Office for advice. Engineers from the local government, other agencies and organizations should inspect buildings and other infrastructures to determine their integrity, and recommend appropriate actions to concerned/affected groups or individuals," it said.

It also urged them to avoid slopes as tension cracks may make them susceptible to landslides.

PHIVOLCS also reminded the public to do the "duck, cover, and hold" in case of another felt earthquake.

The quake struck 8km southwest of the town of Jaro at a depth of 2km beneath the island. It was felt at Intensity V in Tacloban City and Palo, Leyte, and even as far as Cebu City. —Jessica Bartolome/KBK, GMA News