Magnitude 6.1 Earthquake Hits Eastern Samar in Central Philippines, No Casualties Reported
MANILA — May 4, 2026 — A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the central Philippine province of Eastern Samar on Monday afternoon, May 4, sending residents rushing out of buildings but causing no major damage or casualties, authorities reported .
The tectonic earthquake occurred at 2:09 p.m. local time (0609 GMT) with its epicenter located approximately 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) northwest of the coastal town of San Julian in Samar province at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) . The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the earthquake at magnitude 6.0 at a depth of 73.3 kilometers .
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Local Impact and Response
Lt. Eduardo Sande, chief of police in San Julian town — the quake’s epicenter — said there were no reported damage at the municipal hall, although minor cracks were observed at the police station .
“I was inside the municipal hall when the earthquake struck. Everyone immediately evacuated the building. We were able to apply what we learned during earthquake drills,” Sande told the Philippine News Agency in a phone interview .
Residents living in concrete houses remained outdoors for more than an hour after the tremor, afraid of potential aftershocks, he added .
A local police officer told AFP that the earthquake had been “strong and sudden,” adding that one of the beams at the police station where the roof was attached had broken and furniture was seen moving .
Government Assessment and Infrastructure Safety
Randy Nicart of the Eastern Samar Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said authorities are still collecting reports from various municipalities to verify damage .
“There are some reports of minor damage, but these are still subject to validation,” he said in a phone interview .
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) confirmed that no damage has been reported so far to airport facilities following the earthquake . Airports assessed include Calbayog, Borongan, Catbalogan, Hilongos, Catarman, Guiuan and Ormoc .
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CAAP said Borongan Airport is currently experiencing a power outage and is awaiting restoration of electricity. The agency deployed aircraft rescue and firefighting units, along with airport security personnel, to conduct inspections and ensure the safety and integrity of infrastructure .
“CAAP assures the public that all necessary measures have been undertaken to ensure the safety of our airports and personnel. We are also coordinating closely with our airport managers for continuous monitoring, assessment and the immediate resolution of operational concerns,” said CAAP Director General Raul del Rosario .
Areas Affected
According to Phivolcs, the tremor was felt at Intensity 5 in Can-avid, Dulag, Alangalang, and Gandara .
Intensity 4 was recorded in Abuyog, Palo, and Carigara, while Intensity 3 was experienced in Naval, Hernani, Ormoc City, Hilongos, Albuera, Baybay, Villaba, and Isabel .
Phivolcs added that ground shaking was also reported in parts of Southern Leyte, Sorsogon, Cebu, Iloilo, Masbate, and Davao Occidental .
Seismic Vulnerability of the Philippines
The Philippines experiences frequent seismic activity due to its location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a zone of major tectonic plate boundaries known for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions .
Phivolcs said the presence of the Philippine fault zone and related lineaments makes at least 29 towns and cities in Eastern Visayas vulnerable to earthquakes .
Aftershocks Expected
Phivolcs has issued advisories indicating that aftershocks are possible following the moderate tremor, though no significant subsequent shaking had been reported as of Monday evening .
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office will conduct an assessment of the earthquake damage, officials said .
As of Monday evening, no casualties had been reported, and authorities continue to monitor the situation .
SOURCES / INPUTS
- The Peninsula Qatar: Magnitude-6.0 earthquake strikes central Philippines: USGS
- Manila Bulletin: No major damage in Eastern Samar quake
- Xinhua: 6.1-magnitude earthquake strikes central Philippines
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