Classes suspended, building inspections ordered in Tacloban City After Tuesday’s earthquake

TACLOBAN CITY Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez ordered the cancellation of classes in all private and public schools on Wednesday following a magnitude 6.5 earthquake in Eastern Samar on Tuesday afternoon, which was felt at intensity 5 in the city. The Executive Order said the suspension is intended “as precautionary measure against possible aftershocks…and to make way for structural assessment of structures and buildings.” Ms. Romualdez also issued a separate order to the City Engineer’s Office and City Architect’s Office for an inspection and structural assessment of all public buildings in the City, the regional center of Eastern Visayas. Meanwhile, the Leyte Metropolitan Water District issued an advisory assuring consumers that its distribution network and other infrastructure were not affected by the tremor. “Per initial assessment ‘no major damages’ occurred on its pipeline network. The no water supply in some households are isolated cases and the affected service lines are now being repaired. The Water treatment plants in Pastrana and Dagami, Leyte are both operating normally and that the public has nothing to worry,” the water utility said.