Southern Leyte: The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has called on residents in Southern Leyte to avoid six areas in the province affected by landslides and rockfall caused by the recent magnitude 5.8 earthquake. In an advisory issued Monday, Phivolcs said there are five earthquake-induced landslides and a rockfall documented by their team in the towns of San Francisco, Liloan, and Pintuyan.

According to Philippines News Agency, specifically, landslides were recorded in Pres. Quezon village in Liloan; Malico, Tuno, and Pinamudlan villages in San Francisco town; and Nueva Estrella Norte and Nueva Estrella Sur villages in Pintuyan town. Experts also documented a rockfall along Liloan Roadcut within the national highway that links Luzon to Mindanao.

Phivolcs advised residents to avoid areas that may be affected by landslides triggered by strong ground shaking or prolonged heavy rain. The agency noted that earthquake-induced landslides, rockfalls, and other types of mass movement may occur on sloping terrains, specifically in mountainous or hilly areas.

Phivolcs issued the warning as Southern Leyte continued to experience aftershocks following the strong ground shaking on January 23. In the past three days, Phivolcs has recorded at least 20 plotted earthquakes in Southern Leyte.

Phivolcs added that Southern Leyte and its neighboring provinces experience earthquakes as they are situated in one of the seismically active regions in the Archipelago. The presence of onshore and offshore active faults, particularly the Philippine Fault and its segments, generates high seismicity in the area. Additionally, there are local faults nearby, some potentially buried by recent deposits and have the potential to cause minor to strong earthquakes. The strong quake on January 23 struck 10.01 km southeast of the municipality of San Francisco.