Damages on roads and houses
TACLOBAN CITY – A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck Southern Leyte on Thursday morning, January 23, causing significant damage to houses, roads, and a major bridge.
The tremor, which occurred at 7:39 a.m., prompted local government units, including San Francisco—the epicenter of the quake—to suspend classes.
The provincial government of Southern Leyte reported that roads in Barangays Amaga and Himay-angan in Liloan town were rendered impassable due to fallen debris 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,” the provincial government announced on social media hours after the tremor.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported that Liloan Bridge in Liloan town was damaged, with one side now passable due to a space gap in the steel expansion joint caused by the quake. Vehicles weighing over 10 tons are prohibited from crossing the bridge.
In San Francisco, Mayor Benedicta Tiazon ordered the suspension of classes in all levels until Friday, January 24, as the town assessed the damage.
“We are still conducting our assessments but we have sustained some damages due to the 5.8-magnitude quake,” Mayor Tiazon said in a radio interview.
Barangay Malico appeared to have suffered the most damage, with five houses reported to be completely destroyed.
“We evacuated affected families to a gym in Barangay Marayag and have provided them with food and other assistance,” the mayor added.
Two residents, a seven-year-old child and a man, were injured after being hit by falling hollow blocks.
Mayor Tiazon described the quake as the strongest she had experienced and appealed for assistance to help her town recover.
While power supply in the area remained unaffected, internet connectivity in San Francisco slowed down. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded the quake at Intensity IV in the town.
In Barangay Marayag, located seven kilometers from the town proper of San Francisco, resident Arnel Mantilla said several houses were damaged.
“Our house suffered a collapsed wall, but thankfully, no one was hurt. The quake was strong,” Mantilla shared in an online interview.
A dike in Barangay Gabi was also damaged, while a landslide occurred in Barangay Sudmon. Both are in San Francisco.
San Francisco Municipal Council Secretary Servando Teo said the quake lasted about 10 seconds and was followed by series of aftershocks.
“We’ve received reports of damaged houses in Barangays Punta and Santa Paz Norte, and some stores were unable to open because their merchandise fell off shelves during the tremor,” Teo added in a phone interview.
He also reported that transmission lines for the town’s water source in Barangay Bugawisan were damaged, cutting off water supply. The village is known to be prone to landslides.
In Saint Bernard, a landslide occurred at Barangay Guinsaugon, the site of the 2006 tragedy that claimed thousands of lives. No injuries were reported in the latest incident.
Classes were suspended quake-hit towns like in San Francisco, Pintuyan, San Juan, and Silago. In Maasin City, Mayor Nacional Mercado also ordered the suspension of classes at all levels to allow inspections of schools and other facilities.
Michael Sabejon, spokesperson for the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), confirmed that the earthquake did not disrupt the power supply in Southern Leyte.
“There is no power interruption in Southern Leyte due to the earthquake,” Sabejon said in a Viber message.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured affected towns that food and non-food assistance are ready for deployment.
The agency reported having 118,576 family food packs and 34,502 non-food items available for distribution to earthquake victims.
The earthquake, initially recorded as 5.9 magnitude but later downgraded to 5.8, had a depth of 14 kilometers. It was felt across Southern Leyte’s 18 towns and Maasin City, as well as other parts of Visayas and Mindanao.
Phivolcs recorded the following intensities:
Intensity V: Anahawan, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Libagon, Liloan, Padre Burgos, Pintuyan, San Juan, and San Ricardo.
Intensity IV: Bontoc, Limasawa, Macrohon, Malitbog, Saint Bernard, Silago, Sogod, Tomas Oppus, and Maasin City.
Intensity III: Cebu City; several areas in Leyte, including Alangalang, Albuera, and Palo; and Surigao City in Surigao del Norte.
Intensity II: Babatngon, Isabel, and Palompon in Leyte; Cagayan de Oro City.
Intensity I: San Francisco, Cebu; Can-Avid, Eastern Samar; and Mambajao, Camiguin.
Phivolcs warned residents in affected areas to brace for possible aftershocks following the quake.
JOEY A. GABIETA
