9 families evacuated after 6.2-magnitude Catanduanes quake —gov

At least nine families were evacuated after a magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit the coastal town of Gigmoto in Catanduanes late Tuesday evening, Governor Joseph Cua said on Tuesday.

“Nagkaroon lang tayong nine families, evacuation. Isang pamilya sa evacuation center dito sa Barangay Biong at 'yung walong pamilya naman ay nasa private houses doon din sa Barangay Biong,” Cua told Unang Balita.

(Nine families evacuated. One family is staying in an evacuation center and eight are in private homes in Barangay Biyong.)

Cua said there is no damage and casualty reported so far due to the earthquake.

According to him, they felt at least three aftershocks at 10:24 p.m. with magnitude 3.6, at 10:43 p.m. with magnitude 4, and at 11:06 p.m. with magnitude 2.4.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the tectonic quake occurred at 8:54 p.m., with the epicenter at 13.90°N, 125.77°E - 150 km N 85° east of Gigmoto town and a depth of 72 kilometers.

It warned residents of the provinces of Catanduanes, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar "to stay away from the beach and not go to the coast" due to a possible tsunami.

The tsunami warning was later on lifted. —KBK, GMA Integrated News