A magnitude 5.5 earthquake jolted Eastern Samar on Saturday morning, Feb. 15, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.
The agency said the tremor occurred at 9:18 a.m., with the epicenter located 39 kilometers northeast of Hernani, Eastern Samar.
The quake had a depth of 10 kilometers and was tectonic in origin, it added.
Phivolcs reported the following instrumental intensities:
• Intensity III: Carigara, Dulag, and Abuyog in Leyte; Villareal and Gandara in Samar.
• Intensity II: Isabel, Burauen, Kananga, Javier, and Palo in Leyte; San Roque and Mapanas in Northern Samar; Basey and Marabut in Samar.
• Intensity I: Naval in Biliran; Bulusan in Sorsogon; Sogod in Southern Leyte.
No major damage was reported, but aftershocks remain possible.
Eastern Samar, located near the Philippine Trench, is part of a seismically active region, making it prone to frequent earthquakes.