Officials on Tuesday closed the schools in the Bicol region southeast of Manila as a series of aftershocks to a powerful earthquake & heavy rains increased the risk of landslides in the Manila. An earthquake of 6.9 magnitude struck the Legazpi city in Albay province, site of the restive Mayon volcano, & southern Leyte province on Monday night. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, but brief power outages were reported in some areas.

The earthquake hit at 10:11 p.m. local time on Monday whose epicenter was in the ocean 184 kilometers northeast of Catarman in Northern Samar province, at a depth of 56 kilometers. They ordered elementary & high school classes suspended in the region due to flooding caused by heavy rains & the risk that landslides may be triggered by the rains & earthquake.