Phivolcs: Mild predawn quakes rock Eastern Visayas

At least two predawn quakes rocked parts of Eastern Visayas Tuesday, but state seismologists said no damage to property or aftershock was expected. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) seismologist Dante Soneja said the first quake was recorded at Intensity III at 4:48 a.m. "Nagkaroon ng lindol sa may Ormoc City, Intensity III sa Cananga, Leyte and Ormoc City (The quake occurred near Ormoc City. It was felt at Intensity III in Ormoc City and Cananga, Leyte)," Soneja said on dzBB radio. He said the quake was tectonic in origin, and its epicenter was initially traced to 17 km northeast of Ormoc City. Soneja said a second quake occurred at 5:18 a.m., and was felt at Intensity II in Ormoc City and Cananga, Leyte. But he said it was not likely an aftershock since an Intensity III quake is too weak to generate one. "Di siguro, mahina ang Intensity III para magkaroon ng aftershock (It does not seem to be an after)," he said. - RSJ, GMANews.TV