Locals cross the damaged Casoroy bridge in Barangay Casoroy, San Julian, Eastern Samar after a magnitude 6.5 earthquake hit the province on Tuesday. Courtesy of Alren Benorio

(6th UPDATE) A 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit Eastern Samar on Tuesday afternoon, less than 24 hours after a 6.1-magnitude temblor shook Zambales.

The earthquake’s epicenter was traced to San Julian, Eastern Samar, Phivolcs said in an advisory.

The earthquake, which struck at 1:37 p.m. at a depth of 63 kilometers, was felt in different areas of the Visayas, Caraga, and Bicol regions. It was initially reported as a 6.2-magnitude earthquake.

The Phivolcs bulletin said Intensity 6 was felt in San Julian town. The earthquake was also reportedly felt in the following areas:

Intensity 5

Tacloban City

Catbalogan City, Samar

Gen. MacArthur, Salcedo and Guiuan, Eastern Samar

Naval, Biliran

Catarman, Northern Samar

Palo and Pastrana, Leyte

Intensity 4

Abuyog, Hilongos, Javier, Capoocan, Julieta, Baybay, Barogo, Jaro, MacArthur, Matalum, Villaba, Leyte

San Francisco, Southern Leyte

Bislig City, Surigao Del Sur

Iloilo City

Naga City

Sorsogon City

Panganiban, Catanduanes

Intensity 3



Binalbagan, Negros Occidental

Cabalian, Southern Leyte

Dimasalang, Masbate

Butuan City

Cabadbaran City

Intensity 2

Bago City

Bacolod City

The agency also recorded instrumental Intensity 4 in Masbate City, Legazpi City.

Its intensity meters also recorded instrumental Intensity 3 in Legazpi City in Albay and Iriga City in Camarines Sur; Ormoc City; Argao City, Cebu; Bogo City, Cebu; and Surigao City; instrumental Intensity 2 in Passi City, Iloilo; Malinao, Aklan; Jamindan, Capiz; Roxas City; Talibon, Bohol; San Francisco, Cebu; Gingoog City; Mulanay, Quezon; Bago City, Negros Occidental; and Daet, Camarines Norte; and instrumental Intensity 1 in Tapaz, Capiz; Sipocot, Camarines Sur; Lapu-Lapu City; and La Carlota City.

Phivolcs said aftershocks and damage to properties are expected although there is no threat of a tsunami.

A magnitude 6.2 quake rattles Eastern Samar. Phivolcs says aftershocks and damage are expected. Charmaine Awitan gives us more details. #VisayasQuake pic.twitter.com/vDNFw8LDir — ABS-CBN News Channel (@ANCALERTS) April 23, 2019

The National Grid Corporation, meanwhile said on Tuesday night that power transmission operations in Visayas are back to normal as it successfully completed the restoration of lines affected by the quake.

Normalization of the grid came after the energization of the Paranas-Taft-Borongan-Quinapondan 69kV Line at 8:40 p.m.

NGCP: We have restored power transmission services in Samar after this afternoon's quake. pic.twitter.com/zYAdCNG35n — alvin elchico (@alvinelchico) April 23, 2019

NGCP assured the public that it is continuously monitoring the situation and is ready to respond should there be any threat to its transmission facilities.

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said the earthquake in Samar and the temblor that hit Zambales on Monday were not related.

EVACUATION

In videos posted on social media, residents of Tacloban could be seen evacuating buildings.

Residents run outside establishments in Avenida Veteranos in Tacloban after a 6.2-magnitude quake struck some distance west of San Julian in Eastern Samar Tuesday afternoon. pic.twitter.com/as0aIRcmYb | Video from @zhaun — ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) April 23, 2019

A Twitter post by Phres Evardone showed cracked roads in Barangay Casoroy, San Julian, Eastern Samar.

A tweet from the Philippine Red Cross, meanwhile, showed the Sangguniang Panlalawigan office in Catbalogan City with minor damage.

Initial image on the damage brought by the magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck eastern Samar at 1:37 this afternoon, April 23. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan office in Catbalogan City sustained minor damages. Reported by our Red Cross 143 coordinator Rolando Espino. pic.twitter.com/3Y4nvfD0K5 — Philippine Red Cross (@philredcross) April 23, 2019

The Philippines is prone to natural disasters, located on the seismically active Pacific "Ring of Fire", a horse-shoe shaped band of volcanoes and fault lines that arcs round the edge of the Pacific Ocean. - reports from Kristine Sabillo, Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News, and Reuters