5.5 quake hits Samar

MANILA, Philippines - A 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck Samar and Leyte provinces on Thursday morning.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that the quake struck 138 kilometers northeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar at 8:43 a.m.

The quake, which was tectonic in origin, struck at a depth of 20 kilometers.

It was felt at Intensity 5 in Mercedes town in Eastern Samar; Intensity 4 in Tacloban City, Borongan City and General MacArthur in Eastern Samar; Intensity 3 in Catbalogan City, Jaro, Dulag ang Tolosa in Leyte and Intensity 2 in Capoocan and Dagami in Leyte.

Phivolcs warned of aftershocks from the quake.

Meanwhile, another quake also struck in waters off Calatagan town in Batangas province at 7:01 a.m.

The quake was also tectonic in origin and it struck at a depth of 88 kilometers.