Science Undersecretary and PHIVOLCS Director Renato Solidum said the earthquake in Eastern Samar was caused by a movement of the Philippine Trench, a submarine trench to the east of the country. A magnitude 6.5 quake rocked San Julian, Eastern Samar at around P1:37 p.m., according to the state volcanolgy bureau. The strong earthquake was also felt in several towns in Eastern Visayas and the Bicol region. The Monday quake, which caused damage in parts of Luzon, was a minor earthquake, PHIVOLCS earlier said. "This is definitely not a major earthquake," Solidum said in a phone interview with CNN Philippines Monday evening.

Source: Philippine Star April 23, 2019 07:48 UTC