The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake at a depth of 38 km, roughly 6 km offshore of the city of Hinundayan in Southern Leyte Province on Samar Island, Philippines, slightly before 8.00 am local time on Friday 25 July 2014 (slightly before 11.00 pm on Thursday 24 July, GMT). There are no reports of any casualties associated with this event, but several buildings have reportedly been damaged, including ten houses, four schools an hospital and a gymnasium.
The approximate location of the 25 July 2014 Southern Leyte Earthquake. Google Maps.
The geology of the central Philippines is Complex. The southwest of Samar Island is located on the Banda (or Sunda) Microplate, and the northeast on the Philippine Plate, which is being subducted beneath the Sunda (or Banda) Microplate along the central part of the island. Immediately to the east of the Island the Pacific Plate is being subducted along the Philippine Trench, and passes beneath eastern Samar as it sinks into the Earth. This is not a smooth process, an the plates constantly stick together then break apart again as the pressure builds up, resulting in Earthquakes.
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