Magnitude 5.1 quake destroys houses in Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 23 --  A 5.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Albuera, Leyte Wednesday morning, damaging several houses, local authorities reported.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that at least 56 houses were slightly damaged in Altavista village in Ormoc City.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the epicenter of the earthquake with tectonic origin, was five kilometers northeast of Albuera town.

Albuera is a neighboring town of Kananga and Ormoc City, the two areas badly hit by a destructive earthquake last July 6.

The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) confirmed reports of damaged buildings, but they are still consolidating reports as of Wednesday noon.

“The earthquake was felt most in Ormoc. We are awaiting official reports on casualties if any,” said OCD Eastern Visayas Regional Director Edgar Posadas.

The tremor was also felt in Pastrana, Leyte with a recorded Intensity 4; Tacloban City and Palo, Leyte at Intensity 3. Instrumental intensities were felt in Cebu City at Intensity 1 and Ormoc City at Intensity 6.

In a press statement, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said that power transmission services remain stable despite the 5.1 magnitude earthquake.

“The grid remains intact as there had been no reported cases of power interruptions,” the NGCP said.

Albuera town is located within the Central Leyte Fault line stretching from Villalon village in Calubian, Leyte and ends in San Francisco, Southern Leyte.

 The active fault line forms part of the 1,200-kilometer long Philippine Fault Zone, which extends throughout the country. (SQM/PNA)