Quake jolts Metro

A brief earthquake jolted Metro Manila early last night but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The Hong Kong Observatory recorded a magnitude 5.7 quake in Manila, said Woo Wang-chun, a science officer at the observatory. No exact location of the epicenter was immediately given.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the quake, which struck just past 7 p.m., had a magnitude of 4.7 in Metro Manila.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said the location and the magnitude could not immediately be determined because heavy rains at the time hampered satellite transmissions.

"So far we have no report of any significant incidents in other places," he said in a radio interview.

He said the tremor was "a bit strong" on Lubang Island off Mindoro, and also felt in surrounding provinces.

Earthquakes felt in those areas in the past were centered along the Manila Trench west of the capital, he said. "Actually, I did not feel it. It was not strong but we were closely monitoring the situation."

The quake registered at a magnitude of 3 in San Fernando, Pampanga, and Tagaytay and Cavite cities in Cavite. Phivolcs did not expect any aftershocks.

The Philippines is located in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire where volcanic activities and earthquakes are frequent. — Sheila Crisostomo