2017 Leyte earthquake

On July 6, 2017, a 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit Leyte, causing at least 4 deaths and 100 injuries. The quake also caused power interruptions in the whole of Eastern Visayas and nearby Bohol.

2017 Leyte earthquake
UTC time2017-07-06 08:03:57
ISC event611600353
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local dateJuly 6, 2017 (2017-07-06)
Local time16:03:53 PST
Magnitude6.5 Ms
Depth2 km (1 mi)
Epicenter11°07′N 124°41′E
FaultPhilippine Fault - Leyte Segment
TypeTectonic
Areas affected
Total damage₱271 million
Max. intensityPEIS – VII (Destructive)
TsunamiNo
LandslidesYes
Aftershocks796+ (as of July 11, including the M5.4 aftershock)
Casualties4 dead,[1] 100+ injured

The Philippine archipelago is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes and volcanic activity are common.

Earthquake

The 6.5 magnitude earthquake was recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) to have occurred at 4:03:53 p.m. (16:03:53 UTC+8) and determined it to be of tectonic origin. PHIVOLCS recorded the depth of focus at 2 kilometers (1.2 mi)[2] and its epicenter 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) south of Jaro.[3]

The United States Geological Survey (USGC) recorded the depth of focus for the earthquake at 6.5 kilometers (4.0 mi),[4] deeper than what is recorded by PHIVOLCS.

The tremor was caused by the movement of the Leyte Segment of the Philippine Fault. A ground rupture was recorded in Barangay Tongonan in Ormoc which was described by the Department of Science and Technology as the epicenter area of the quake. As of July 9, PHIVOLCS was still assessing the extent of the rupture which could span 20 kilometers (12 mi) across the area.[5]

No tsunami warning was raised by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.[6]

Impact

The Department of Public Works and Highways Leyte Fourth Engineering District announced on July 10, 2017 that they estimate that at least ₱271 million of damage was caused by the earthquake. The local agency said that the city of Ormoc, and nearby town Kananga sustained the heaviest damage.[7]

The earthquake caused a building in Kananga to collapse, causing the deaths of two people.[3] Two more deaths were reported later.[1]

Authorities temporarily closed Ormoc Airport after its runway was damaged.[8]

Ten schools located in the towns of Kananga, Jaro, Barugo, and San Isidro were destroyed by the earthquake while ten more schools located in Inopacan, Albuera, Mérida, Barugo, and San Miguel were partially damaged.[9]

Leyte, Samar and Bohol experienced power blackout while power supplies in Panay, Cebu, and Negros were also reportedly affected.[10]

Aftermath

PHIVOLCS recorded 796 aftershocks as of noon of July 11, 2017.[11] Ormoc and Kananga declared a state of calamity.[12]

Residents in Lake Danao and Tongonan barangays of Ormoc are to be evacuated due to those localities being situated directly on the path of the Philippine Fault line.[9]

On August 23, 2017, an aftershock of magnitude 5.1 occurred.[13]

References
  1. Dacanay, Barbara Mae (July 8, 2017). "Four dead, 100 injured in Leyte's 6.5 magnitude quake". GulfNews. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  2. "PHIVOLCS Earthquake Information No.:5". PHIVOLCS. July 6, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  3. "WATCH, LOOK | At least 2 dead in Magnitude 6.5 Leyte quake". InterAksyon. News5. July 8, 2017.
  4. "M 6.5 - 3km NNE of Masarayao, Philippines". United States Geological Survey. July 6, 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  5. Tupaz, Voltaire (July 9, 2017). "Phivolcs finds ground rupture in quake-hit Leyte". Rappler. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  6. "6.5-magnitude quake hits central Philippine island: USGS (Update)". Phys.org. Science X network. July 6, 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  7. Abrematea, Nestor (July 11, 2017). "Quake damage reaches P271 M". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  8. "Panic, damage after deadly Leyte earthquake". Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 7, 2017.
  9. "20 schools in Leyte damaged by earthquake; 2 barangays along fault line set for full evacuation". BusinessWorld. BusinessWorld Publishing Corporation. July 13, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  10. Saulon, Victor (July 13, 2017). "Earthquake-affected islands facing longer power blackout". BusinessWorld. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  11. Saulon, Victor; Caro, Jil Danielle (July 12, 2017). "Power expected to be back in parts of Leyte, Bohol today". BusinessWorld. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  12. "Quake-hit Ormoc under state of calamity". Coconuts Manila. ABS-CBN News. July 11, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  13. "BULUSAN VOLCANO BULLETIN 23 January 2018 08:00 A.M".
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