Tremor jolts Samar, Leyte areas

TACLOBAN CITY, May 13 (PNA) -- A 4.3 magnitude earthquake shook some parts of Samar and Leyte Island on Friday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from the quake that struck 30 kilometers northeast of Catbalogan City, the capital of Samar province.

Ground shaking was felt at varying intensities in Catbalogan (intensity 4); Tacloban City, Palo, and Dulag in Leyte (intensity 2); and Naval, Biliran (intensity 1).

From May 1 to 9 this year, Phivolcs has already recorded four minor earthquakes in the region. These are in Almeria, Biliran (magnitude 2.9); Hernani, Eastern Samar (magnitude 2.9); San Julian, Eastern Samar (magnitude 3.2); and Naval, Biliran (magnitude 3.4).

The presence of active Philippine Fault Zone and lineaments have put 29 towns and cities in Eastern Visayas as high risk to earthquakes, according to Phivolcs. (PNA)

FFC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO