Magnitude-3.3 quake rocks Leyte

A magnitude-3.3 quake rocked four towns in Leyte province early Monday morning, but the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said no damage or aftershock was expected. Radio dzBB reported that Phivolcs director Renato Solidum Jr said the quake was recorded at magnitude 3.3 at 8:40 a.m., and as traced 53 km off Ormoc City. Solidum said the quake, which originated from the Philippine Fault Zone, was felt at Intensity III in Abuyog and Dulag towns, and Intensity II in Pulo and Tanauan towns. Abuyog is a second-class town with a population of 53,837 people in 10,620 households. Dulag is a fourth-class town with a population of 38,897 people in 7,657 households. Palo is a third-class town with a population of 47,982 people in 9,272 households. Tanauan is a third-class town with a population of 45,056 people in 9,224 households. Earlier, the United States Geological Service (USGS) reported that a magnitude-4.9 quake was recorded off General Santos City before midnight Sunday. In a report on its website (www.usgs.gov), it said the quake was recorded at 11:47 p.m., with the epicenter 230 km south of General Santos City, or 1,260 km south-southeast of Manila. But the USGS said the quake was considered to be in the Indonesia region, with the epicenter also located 285 km north of Manado, Sulawesi, Indonesia or 2,340 km east-northeast of Jakarta. No damage or aftershock was immediately recorded. - GMANews.TV