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A magnitude 5.8 earthquake strikes waters off the shores of San Francisco in Southern Leyte on Thursday morning, January 23, 2025, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Photo from Official Facebook page of Phivolcs-DOST

TACLOBAN CITY—While no fatality was reported after a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Southern Leyte on Thursday, more than 250 houses and several roads and bridges in the province were damaged by the ground shaking, an inspection by disaster response and local officials on Friday showed.

In a briefing, Lord Byron Torrecarion, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional director in Eastern Visayas, said seven residents were treated for minor scratches and cuts caused by falling debris.

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Torrecarion, along with a representative from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and Southern Leyte Rep. Christopherson Yap, conducted an aerial inspection of the affected areas, particularly San Francisco town, the quake’s epicenter.

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“Our inspection aims to further assess the extent of the damage caused by the earthquake and determine the immediate assistance we can provide to the affected families,” Torrecarion said.

Of the damaged houses, 197 were located in San Francisco which bore the brunt of the strongest quake that hit the province in over 15 years.

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Seven houses were destroyed in Barangay Malico, a known landslide-prone area. Over 20 residents from the village are staying at a gym in Barangay Marayag where they have been provided temporary shelter and assistance.

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The OCD has yet to release the total number of families affected by the quake that was felt across all 18 towns and Maasin City in Southern Leyte.

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According to the provincial government, roads in the villages of Amaga and Himay-angan in Liloan town were rendered impassable due to debris coming down from the mountains and large cracks caused by the earthquake.

“Residents and travelers are advised to avoid these areas for their safety. Clearing operations and assessments are underway and updates will be provided as soon as possible,” it said in a post on social media.

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Yap raised the need to immediately address infrastructure damage, particularly on the Liloan Bridge.

“It’s an old bridge that needs repair. We must rehabilitate the Liloan Bridge as it serves as the main route to Panaon Island which is vital for the local economy,” he said.

The bridge connects the towns of San Francisco, Liloan, San Ricardo and Pintuyan on Panaon Island.

Yap also said that the transmission lines for the water system in San Francisco were damaged and must be immediately restored.

Aftershocks

Jeffrey Perez, supervising science research specialist of Phivolcs, reported that Southern Leyte continues to experience aftershocks.

“Since Thursday, we have recorded 173 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 1.5 to 2.3,” he said.

Perez described the earthquake as “moderately strong” but he assured the public that such occurrences were normal in a seismically active country like the Philippines.

To address fears and educate residents, Phivolcs plans to conduct an information campaign in the province.

“We aim to explain to residents that earthquakes and aftershocks are natural occurrences to help ease their concerns,” Perez said.

He also announced plans to install seismic stations in San Francisco and Saint Bernard.

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These stations will help monitorhawkplay, detect, and measure ground movements caused by earthquakes, improving the province’s preparedness for future seismic events.

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