(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines — Two strong earthquakes rocked Mindoro, Metro Manila and parts of Luzon before noon Saturday, but no casualty or damage was initially reported.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the first quake measuring magnitude 5.3 struck at 11:04 a.m. and was centered 81 kilometers underground.
The second quake measuring magnitude 6.5 struck at 11:09 a.m. and was centered about 107 kilometers deep.
Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said the epicenter of the quakes were traced at 34-50 kilometers off Mamburao town in Mindoro Occidental, or about 170 kilometers south of Manila.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said reported the first was magnitude 5.6 and the second was a stronger but deeper magnitude 6.1, with the epicenter at 72 km southwest of Batangas, 73 km west of Calapan in Mindoro, or 146 km south-southwest of Manila.
The earthquakes were reportedly felt as far as Apalit town in Pampanga province, about 220 kilometers north of the epicenters, said Solidum. They were also felt in Bataan province west of Manila and Batangas south of the capital.
Solidum also said the quakes were recorded at Intensity 5 in the Mindoro area, notably in Calapan, Lubang and Naujan.
It was felt at Intensity 4 in Puerto Galera, Mindoro Occidental, and in Manila, and Intensity 3 in Quezon City and other places.
Residents of Quezon City reported that the quake was strong enough to make picture frames hanging on walls swing.
Nonetheless, Solidum said there was nothing to worry about.
He said the quakes were caused by underground movements along the Manila Trench.
He said while the magnitude of the quakes were strong, these were not enough to cause damage as they occurred about 80-120 km underground.
“Since it happened deep undersea, there’s no risk of tsunami," he told a radio station. - With a report from AP
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the first quake measuring magnitude 5.3 struck at 11:04 a.m. and was centered 81 kilometers underground.
The second quake measuring magnitude 6.5 struck at 11:09 a.m. and was centered about 107 kilometers deep.
Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said the epicenter of the quakes were traced at 34-50 kilometers off Mamburao town in Mindoro Occidental, or about 170 kilometers south of Manila.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said reported the first was magnitude 5.6 and the second was a stronger but deeper magnitude 6.1, with the epicenter at 72 km southwest of Batangas, 73 km west of Calapan in Mindoro, or 146 km south-southwest of Manila.
The earthquakes were reportedly felt as far as Apalit town in Pampanga province, about 220 kilometers north of the epicenters, said Solidum. They were also felt in Bataan province west of Manila and Batangas south of the capital.
Solidum also said the quakes were recorded at Intensity 5 in the Mindoro area, notably in Calapan, Lubang and Naujan.
It was felt at Intensity 4 in Puerto Galera, Mindoro Occidental, and in Manila, and Intensity 3 in Quezon City and other places.
Residents of Quezon City reported that the quake was strong enough to make picture frames hanging on walls swing.
Nonetheless, Solidum said there was nothing to worry about.
He said the quakes were caused by underground movements along the Manila Trench.
He said while the magnitude of the quakes were strong, these were not enough to cause damage as they occurred about 80-120 km underground.
“Since it happened deep undersea, there’s no risk of tsunami," he told a radio station. - With a report from AP
