Manila: Most ports under the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) were unaffected and continue to operate after several earthquakes struck various regions nationwide since Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, in a situation report on Friday, the PPA said only the Liloan Municipal Port in Southern Leyte is closed and being secured by the Terminal Management Office (TMO) – Liloan after large cracks were found at the port.
The damaged port, mostly used by cargo vessels in the area, was affected by the magnitude 5.8 earthquake that hit Southern Leyte at 7:39 a.m. on Thursday, according to Port Management Office (PMO) Eastern Leyte/Samar. An Intensity V earthquake was felt at the Liloan Municipal Port, Liloan Ferry Terminal, Port of San Ricardo, and Port of San Juan; Intensity IV at Port of Sogod; and Intensity III at Port of Tacloban.
On the other hand, the PMO in Batangas was struck by a 5.4 magnitude earthquake in Calatagan at 6:48 p.m. on Monday. ‘Wala namang naitalang napinsalang pasilidad sa Calatagan at Batangas Port (There was no reported damage to facilities in both Calatagan and Batangas ports),’ it said. Both ports resumed operation at 6:55 p.m. on the same day after a safety check.
In addition, PMO Mindoro reported no damage after a magnitude 2.6 earthquake struck TMO Lubang. Meanwhile, PMO Surigao reported a magnitude 5.0 earthquake in General Luna, Surigao del Norte on Wednesday evening, followed by a magnitude 5.7 earthquake that occurred 88 km. from Leyte province on Thursday. There was also no reported damage on PPA ports in the region.
Lastly, PMO Misamis Occidental/Ozamiz reported an earthquake at 11:41 a.m. on Thursday. The earthquake was detected by the early warning device and seismic accelerograph intensity meter at the Ozamiz Port. All passengers and employees were evacuated safely to designated areas as part of standard emergency evacuation procedures. The port was immediately inspected by the PMO’s Engineering Services Division and all structures and facilities were deemed safe, and port operation and transactions immediately resumed.
