Magnitude 5.5 quake rocks Eastern Samar

CEBU, Philippines -  A magnitude 5.5 quake rocked Eastern Samar on Thursday morning, with state seismologists warning of possible aftershocks, a PNA report said.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the quake was recorded at 8:43 a.m. and was tectonic in origin, adding that no damages or casualties were reported.

In its initial bulletin, Phivolcs traced the quake epicenter to 138 kilometers northeast of Guian, Eastern Samar at a depth of 20 kilometers.

Phivolcs reported that Intensity 5 was felt in Mercedes town of Eastern Samar; and Intensity 4 in Tacloban City in Leyte and in Borongan City and General McArthur town in Eastern Samar.

Intensity 3 was felt in Catbalogan City in Samar; and the towns of Jaro, Dulag and Tolosa, while Intensity 2 was recorded in Capoocan and Dagami, all in Leyte.  (FREEMAN)