Gov’t employees in Albay rush out of offices after Tuesday’s magnitude-6.5 tremor

Government employees rushed out of their offices in Legazpi City, Albay, after an Intensity 3 was felt in the area due to the Magnitude 6.5 earthquake that struck Eastern Samar and several parts of the Visayas on Tuesday afternoon.

Employees have just returned from work when the tremor was felt in the capital, according to a Balitanghali report by Cecille Villarosa on Wednesday.

In a CCTV footage, employees could be seen going out simultaneously from a two-storey building of the capital, while others also covered their heads.

"Naramdaman namin na nagsigalawan 'yung building. A matter of seconds lang po naman sila. Yumanig po ang upuan pati tiningnan namin 'yung mga chandeliers na gumagalaw po," Rolando Barba, an employee of the Albay Provincial Office said.

Employees at the Legazpi Hall of Justice were able to get out swiftly from their single-storey building.

Workers at the local Commission on Elections office as well went out of their office.

"Non-destructive phase po 'yun ng earthquake event. Ibig sabihin wala kaming ine-expect na damage. And sa monitoring namin sa Phivolcs, wala namang possible situation of tsunami, therefore, hindi kami nagpalabas ng advisory," said Cedric Daep, executive director of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO).

Ed Laguerta, Resident Volcanologist of PHIVOLCS Albay, said the earthquake had no direct impact on the Mayon Volcano.

"'Yung gumalaw na fault doon, wala namang kinalaman dito sa local fault malapit sa Mayon so technically, walang epekto 'yun. Kaya lang dahil medyo gumalaw din ang lupa dito sa may Albay area, intensity 3 based sa instrument sa Lignon Hill, titignan pa rin natin," said Laguerta. — Jamil Santos/MDM, GMA News