The magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Mindanao on Friday morning also sent tremors across Eastern Visayas, prompting widespread class and work suspensions, temporary power outages, and precautionary evacuations in coastal areas following a tsunami advisory.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the quake occurred off the coast of Mindanao, but it was felt in several parts of the Visayas region, including Leyte, Samar, and Eastern Samar.
Local government units across the region immediately issued advisories for residents to remain alert.
In Maydolong, Eastern Samar, local officials warned fishermen not to venture out to sea. In Dulag, Leyte, the municipal government urged residents living near the coast to evacuate to higher and safer ground, while Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado also ordered residents along coastal communities to seek shelter inland.
Phivolcs initially raised a tsunami alert for several provinces, including Leyte, Eastern Samar, and Southern Leyte, urging residents to move to elevated areas as a precautionary measure.
Among the areas that immediately suspended classes and government work were Guiuan, San Julian, and San Policarpo in Eastern Samar, as well as Ormoc City, Baybay City, Palo, Hilongos, Villaba, and Carigara in Leyte.
The Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative (Esamelco) temporarily shut down one of its substations, affecting power supply in Llorente, Balangkayan, Maydolong, San Julian, and Borongan City. The cooperative later deployed maintenance teams to assess possible damage to its facilities.
In Tacloban City, classes were suspended after the tremor, with patients from several hospitals briefly evacuated for safety. Employees from the city hall and customers from various business establishments rushed outside as aftershocks were felt.
‘It was scary. I saw the electric wires swaying,’ said one woman, who declined to be named, adding that she feared for her child, who was still in school during the quake.
A major shopping mall in Tacloban temporarily closed operations to allow engineers to inspect the building for potential structural damage.
Classes and work at Tacloban- UP Campus were also canceled due to the tremor.
In Leyte, Leyte, the opening ceremony of a school sports competition was disrupted, with videos showing students and teachers crying and panicking as the ground shook.
In Catbalogan City, Samar, the distribution of cash assistance for victims of Typhoon ‘Opong’ was momentarily halted but later resumed once safety was assured.
As of press time, no major damage or casualties have been reported in Eastern Visayas, but authorities continue to monitor coastal areas and inspect infrastructures for any signs of damage.
Phivolcs has since lifted the tsunami warning but reminded residents to remain cautious due to possible aftershocks