MANILA, Philippines — The two strong earthquakes that struck Luzon and Visayas for two consecutive days were not related, a Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology official said Tuesday.
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.
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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.
On Monday, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake jolted Castillejos, Zambales at around 5:11 p.m.
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. He added that no significant damage is expected in Pampanga and Metro Manila following the quake felt in Luzon.
As of Tuesday afternoon, 16 were reported dead, 81 injured and 14 missing in Central Luzon following Monday's quake, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. — Patricia Lourdes Viray with reports from Helen Flores