A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck San Francisco town in Southern Leyte at 7:39 a.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2025.

In an advisory of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) marked "Earthquake Information No. 2," it was learned that the epicenter of the tremor was located 10.01°N, 125.19°E - 006 km S 29° E of San Francisco, at a depth of 14 kilometers. 

Reported Intensities:

Intensity VI - San Francisco, Southern Leyte

Intensity V - Anahawan, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Libagon, Liloan, Padre Burgos, Pintuyan, San Juan, and San Ricardo, Southern Leyte

Intensity IV - Abuyog, Bato, City of Baybay, Hilongos, Hindang, and Inopacan, Leyte; Bontoc, Limasawa, City of Maasin, Macrohon, Malitbog, Saint Bernard, Silago, Sogod, and Tomas Oppus, Southern Leyte

Intensity III - City of Cebu; Alangalang, Albuera, Barugo, Burauen, Carigara, Dagami, Dulag, Jaro, Javier, Julita, Kananga, Macarthur, Mahaplag, Mayorga, Merida, Palo, Santa Fe, Tanauan, and Tolosa, Leyte; City of Surigao, Surigao del Norte

Intensity II - Babatngon, Isabel, and Palompon, Leyte; City of Cagayan de Oro

Instrumental Intensities:

Intensity V - Hinundayan, Padre Burgos, and San Juan, Southern Leyte

Intensity IV - Hinunangan, City of Maasin, and Sogod, Southern Leyte; City of Surigao, Surigao del Norte

Intensity III - Carigara, Dulag, Kananga, and Palo, Leyte; Ormoc City; City Cagayan de Oro

Intensity II - City of Roxas, Capiz; City of Bogo, Cebu; Leyte, Leyte; Gandara, Samar; City of Gingoog, Misamis Oriental

Intensity I - San Francisco, Cebu; Can-Avid, Eastern Samar; Mambajao, Camiguin

In San Francisco, the epicenter 

The Local Government Unit (LGU) of San Francisco has reported of damaged houses in Barangay Punta and road cracks in Barangay Santa Paz Norte following the tremor. 

Transmission lines for the town's water source in Barangay Bongawisan were also reported damaged.

Sangguniang Bayan Secretary Servando Tio, in a phone interview, said that no injuries were reported, but one individual collapsed due to panic attack.

The LGU also suspended classes immediately, but work in the government has continued.

The tremor lasted for about 10 to 15 seconds, Tio said, and aftershocks are still being felt, as of this writing.

In Liloan, Southern Leyte

A netizen shared photos of cracks on a main road in Barangay Himay-angan, Municipality of Liloan, Southern Leyte after the earthquake struck.

The netizen, Jonathan Guliban, warned motorists to take extra care in traversing the road, now with multiple cracks and "humps."

Guliban said that the tremor was strong.

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways Southern Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (DEO) has informed the public that one side of Liloan Bridge is closed, as of January 23, 2025.

"This is to inform the public that one side of the Liloan Bridge is closed, and vehicles exceeding 10 tons are not allowed to pass through as of the moment," the advisory issued at about noontime on January 23, 2025, read.

"This is due to the space gap of the Steel Expansion Joint caused by the magnitude 5.9 earthquake earlier in San Francisco, Southern Leyte on January 23, 2025," the advisory added.

However, in Earthquake Information No. 2 issued by PHIVOLCS, the magnitude of the tremor has been downgraded to 5.8.

OCD 8 assessment

As of this writing, Office of Civil Defense Eastern Visayas (OCD) 8 Assistant Regional Director Sher Rysiah Saises informed the public that assessment is ongoing in the towns of Limawasa, Pintuyan, Padre Burgos, Hinundayan, and San Francisco.

Saises said there are initial reports of damage to the Sangguniang Bayan building and gym in San Francisco with visible cracks and lines while an "elevated asphalt" was observed in the town’s national highway.

In Pintuyan town where Intensity V (5) was reported, minor cracks in public buildings and houses were also observed.

Meanwhile, minor damage at Cantutang Elementary School in Barangay Cantutang, Padre Burgos town was also reported.