
A 5.3-magnitude earthquake jolted Leyte province at around 12.39 a.m., Monday, March 21, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Phivolcs traced the epicenter of the earthquake at 10 kilometers (km) southwest of Burauen, Leyte. It was shallow at a depth of 4 km.
The quake was strongly felt at Intensity V in Burauen, Ormoc City, Kananga, La Paz, Julita, and Pastrana, Leyte.
Phivolcs said it was “moderately strong” at Intensity IV in Dulag, Santa Fe, Barugo, Abuyog, Palo, Tolosa, Capoocan, and Baybay City in Leyte and Tacloban City.
It was also felt as a “weak” tremor at Intensity III in Cebu City and Talisay City, Cebu; Lawaan, Eastern Samar; Leyte, Leyte; and Biliran, Biliran.
Meanwhile, it was “slightly weak” at Intensity II in Borongan City and Taft in Eastern Samar and Naval in Biliran.
Phivolcs’ instruments also measured the earthquake at Instensity V in Ormoc City; Intensity IV in Abuyog and Palo, Leyte; Intensity III in Alangalang and Carigara in Leyte and Sogod in Southern Leyte; Intensity II in Calubian in Leyte and San Francisco in Cebu; and Intensity I in Lapu-Lapu and Argao City in Cebu.
It said the earthquake was tectonic in origin, which means it was caused by the movement of an active fault near the area.
Phivolcs advised the public to stay vigilant as aftershocks may occur due to this earthquake.