Quakes rock Eastern Samar

MANILA, Philippines — Two earthquakes with magnitudes 5 and 4.2 rocked areas in Eastern Samar yesterday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Phivolcs said the magnitude 5 quake occurred at 2:47 a.m. and its epicenter was located 12 kilometers south of Jipapad town.

State seismologists said the quake was tectonic in origin and may generate aftershocks.

Instrumental Intensity 2 was recorded in Villareal, Samar; Dulag, Leyte, and Mapanas, Northern Samar.

Instrumental Intensity 1 was logged in Basey, Samar.

A few minutes earlier, a magnitude 4.2 quake also rocked the province.

The temblor’s epicenter was located 14 kilometers south of Taft town.

It was not expected to cause damage to property or generate aftershocks.