The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said a moderately strong earthquake, measuring 5.0-magnitude on the Richter scale, struck Northern Samar on Sunday, July 7.
Phivolcs recorded the tremor at 12:01 a.m. and located its epicenter 10 kilometers northwest of Lope De Vega, Northern Samar.
Initially, Phivolcs reported the quake as 5.4-magnitude.
The tremor was felt as a “moderately strong” event at Intensity IV in Lope de Vega, Catarman, Bobon, Mondragon, Palapag, San Roque, Pambujan, San Jose, Rosario, Lavezares, San Isidro, Victoria, Silvino Lobos, and Catubig in Northern Samar, and in Calbayog City and Santa Margarita in Samar.
It was “weak” at Intensity III in Allen, Laoang, Mapanas, Gamay, Lapinig, and Capul in Northern Samar; Arteche, San Policarpo, Dolores, Oras, Can-avid, Taft, San Julian, and Sula in Eastern Samar; and Gandara, Tarangnan, San Jorge, Motiong, Paranas, Pinabacdao, Calbiga, and Villareal in Samar.
Intensity II, or “slightly felt” tremor, was recorded in Santa Rita and Basey, Samar; Borongan City, Maydolong, Llorente, and Hernani in Eastern Samar; and Tacloban City, Babatngon, and San Miguel in Leyte.
Phivolcs said the earthquake was tectonic in origin, resulting from the movement of an active fault near the area.
While Phivolcs anticipated no significant damage, aftershocks were possible.