Magnitude-5.9 quake rocks Samar, 26 aftershocks reported; Phivolcs allays tsunami fears 

State seismologists on Wednesday allayed fears of a tsunami from a magnitude-5.9 quake off Eastern Visayas that jolted several provinces Tuesday night.

 

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology head Renato Solidum Jr. said Tuesday night's quake was not powerful enough to generate a tsunami.

 

"'Yung magnitude 5.9, hindi sapat na mag-trigger ng tsunami. Malapit sa magnitude 7 (ang magti-trigger ng tsunami)," Solidum said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

Citing reports reaching him, Solidum said Tuesday night's quake did not appear to generate any tsunami.

 

Phivolcs had warned of possible damage and aftershocks following the magnitude-5.9 quake Tuesday night. The quake was felt at Intensity V (Strong) in some areas.

 

On the other hand, Solidum said 26 aftershocks had been recorded since Tuesday night, but these were generally not felt.

 

"Mga 26 ang aftershock dahil sa lindol kagabi pero hindi ito naramdaman," he said.

 

At least one magnitude 3.7-aftershock was recorded at 3:40 a.m. Wednesday but there was no damage or aftershock expected from the predawn quake. Its epicenter was located at 49 km northeast of Mercedes, Eastern Samar.

 

The magnitude-5.9 quake which jolted parts of Eastern Samar Tuesday night came less than three hours after a magnitude-5.1 quake hit the Davao area in Mindanao.

 

In its bulletin, Phivolcs said the quake was recorded at 8:55 p.m., and was tectonic in origin.

 

Phivolcs said the epicenter was traced to 55 km northeast of Mercedes, Eastern Samar.

 

The quake was felt at:

 

 

–KG, GMA News