A magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit San Julian, Eastern Samar, on May 4, 2026, damaging numerous homes and the historic Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Church. The quake has raised concerns among residents as assessments of the damage are still underway.
According to local officials, many houses in Barangay 2, Poblacion were affected. Councilor Hilarion Gracias Nacario reported visible cracks in the church, which dates back centuries.
Nacario noted that power supply was disrupted for approximately 10 minutes following the quake. This earthquake is the most powerful to strike the area since a magnitude 6.5 tremor in April 2019.
Ongoing Assessment and Community Response
Local authorities are continuing to assess the damage to determine the total number of affected homes. The municipal government has mobilized resources to assist residents in need.
The tremor is the strongest to hit the town since the last significant earthquake in 2019, raising concerns among residents about structural safety.
Hilarion Gracias Nacario