350 aftershocks since Aug. 31 Samar quake - Phivolcs

August 31 earthquake, from USGS.

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InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines - Over 350 aftershocks, including six off Guiuan in Eastern Samar early Monday, were recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) from last Friday's magnitude 7.6 quake.

But none of these aftershocks were felt by the residents particularly in the town of Guiuan, the town nearest the earthquake's epicenter.

Phivolcs said that as of 5 a.m. Monday, a total of 351 aftershocks were recorded, where two were felt. Some provinces in Bicol and Caraga felt the aftershocks, as strong as Intensity 6.

The first aftershock on Monday occurred at 1:23 a.m. with a magnitude of 4.7. This was followed by a magnitude 5.0 quake 30 minutes later and another 5.0 earthquake at 2:30 a.m. The fourth quake happened at 2:54 a.m and was recorded at magnitude 4.9. This was followed by a magnitude 4.9, which occurred at 3:18 a.m.

The latest aftershock occurred at 6:55 a.m., a magnitude 5 quake some 135 km southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

No casualties or damages were reported.

Despite the aftershocks, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has downgraded its alert status from red, the highest alert, to blue.

Hundreds of houses were either partially or totally damaged from the quake in Samar. The NDRRMC said that restoration cost in Eastern Visayas alone would cost P12.8 million.

Fridays’ strong tremor did not affect schools and business establishments. Local inspectors saw no cracks or damages in these buildings.

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ensured that it would repair the damaged bridges especially the Buyayawon Bridge. If the bridge collapses, the towns of Mercedes and Gi-wan in Samar would be isolated.

The local government is still determining the total amount of damages in the whole province of Eastern Samar.

According to Phivolcs, had the quake occurred on land, it would have caused more damages.

The authorities are continuously monitoring the affected areas while local residents are encouraged to always be prepared and join in disaster preparedness drills and seminars.

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