REGIONAL
Advocates Philippines
6.0 Quake Hits Eastern Samar, Classes And Gov't Work Suspended
Photo credit: PHIVOLCS
A strong earthquake jolted Eastern Samar on Monday afternoon, forcing the suspension of classes and government work across the province as authorities began damage inspections and emergency assessments.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the earthquake struck at 2:09 p.m. and was tectonic in origin. PHIVOLCS initially recorded the tremor at magnitude 6.1 before later revising it to magnitude 6.0 in an updated bulletin.
The quake’s epicenter was located about 18 kilometers northeast of San Julian, Eastern Samar, at a depth of 57 kilometers.
The strongest shaking, classified under Intensity VI, was felt in the towns of San Julian and Salcedo in Eastern Samar. Intensity V was recorded in Can-avid, Sulat, and Taft, while weaker shaking was experienced across several parts of Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Bohol, Cebu, Masbate, Dinagat Islands, and nearby provinces.
PHIVOLCS said damage and aftershocks are possible following the earthquake, although no tsunami warning was raised.
Following the tremor, Eastern Samar Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone ordered the suspension of classes and work in government offices throughout the province to ensure public safety and allow authorities to inspect buildings and infrastructure for possible damage.
Residents across Eastern Samar rushed out of homes, offices, schools, and commercial establishments as the shaking was felt in several municipalities.
Emergency meetings were immediately convened by the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of San Julian and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council VIII to coordinate response efforts and ongoing assessments.
Authorities said rapid damage assessment teams were deployed to determine the extent of impacts in affected communities and identify families who may need assistance.
Regional disaster officials also began checking roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, and telecommunications services across Eastern Visayas to ensure critical infrastructure remained operational after the quake.
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council VIII also urged local governments to continue issuing advisories on possible aftershocks while countering misinformation that could cause unnecessary panic among residents.
As of Monday afternoon, no major casualties or widespread damage had been officially reported, although inspections and assessments were still ongoing in several areas near the epicenter.
The Philippines experiences frequent earthquakes due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where active fault lines and trenches surround much of the country.
PHIVOLCS advised residents to remain alert for aftershocks, avoid entering damaged structures, and follow instructions from local disaster officials as monitoring operations continue.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the earthquake struck at 2:09 p.m. and was tectonic in origin. PHIVOLCS initially recorded the tremor at magnitude 6.1 before later revising it to magnitude 6.0 in an updated bulletin.
The quake’s epicenter was located about 18 kilometers northeast of San Julian, Eastern Samar, at a depth of 57 kilometers.
The strongest shaking, classified under Intensity VI, was felt in the towns of San Julian and Salcedo in Eastern Samar. Intensity V was recorded in Can-avid, Sulat, and Taft, while weaker shaking was experienced across several parts of Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Bohol, Cebu, Masbate, Dinagat Islands, and nearby provinces.
PHIVOLCS said damage and aftershocks are possible following the earthquake, although no tsunami warning was raised.
Following the tremor, Eastern Samar Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone ordered the suspension of classes and work in government offices throughout the province to ensure public safety and allow authorities to inspect buildings and infrastructure for possible damage.
Residents across Eastern Samar rushed out of homes, offices, schools, and commercial establishments as the shaking was felt in several municipalities.
Emergency meetings were immediately convened by the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of San Julian and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council VIII to coordinate response efforts and ongoing assessments.
Authorities said rapid damage assessment teams were deployed to determine the extent of impacts in affected communities and identify families who may need assistance.
Regional disaster officials also began checking roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, and telecommunications services across Eastern Visayas to ensure critical infrastructure remained operational after the quake.
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council VIII also urged local governments to continue issuing advisories on possible aftershocks while countering misinformation that could cause unnecessary panic among residents.
As of Monday afternoon, no major casualties or widespread damage had been officially reported, although inspections and assessments were still ongoing in several areas near the epicenter.
The Philippines experiences frequent earthquakes due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where active fault lines and trenches surround much of the country.
PHIVOLCS advised residents to remain alert for aftershocks, avoid entering damaged structures, and follow instructions from local disaster officials as monitoring operations continue.
May 4, 2026
We are dedicated storytellers with a passion for bringing your brand to life. Our services range from news and media features to brand promotion and collaborations.
Interested? Visit our
Contact Us page for more information. To learn more about what we offer, check out our latest article on services and opportunities.
