Aftershocks may follow Intensity 6 quake in E Visayas - Phivolcs

State seismologists warned residents in Eastern and Central Visayas of possible aftershocks after an Intensity-6 quake hit parts of Leyte, Southern Leyte and Cebu Thursday night. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in a bulletin posted before dawn Friday that it expected damage and aftershocks in the wake of the quake. Initial information showed the quake was tectonic in origin and recorded at 10:49 p.m. Thursday, and the epicenter was traced 42 km northeast of Maasin town in Southern Leyte. Phivolcs said the quake was felt at Intensity 6 in the towns of St. Bernard, San Francisco and San Juan in Southern Leyte. St. Bernard was the site of a deadly mudslide last year. The quake was felt at Intensity 5 in Hinundayan, Silago, Hinunangan and Maasin in S. Leyte; and Intensity 4 in Surigao City and Dulag town in Leyte. It was recorded at Intensity 3 in Palo, Leyte; and Intensity 2 in Cebu City and Tacloban City. A separate report from the United States Geological Service (USGS, www.usgs.gov) said the epicenter was about 90 km south-southwest of Guiuan, Samar or 105 km south-southeast of Tacloban, or 665 km southeast of Manila. - GMANews.TV