Another tremor rocks Metro, Luzon as part of earthquake swarm

MANILA, Philippines – An earthquake of 5.4 magnitude rocked Metro Manila and other Luzon provinces anew yesterday, but government seismologists said no damage and casualties were reported.

Almost 200 aftershocks were recorded as of yesterday morning generated by the 5.4-magnitude quake that hit the same areas Sunday night, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Renato Solidum said.

Solidum explained that the quake was part of an “earthquake swarm” or series of tremors that started last Thursday caused by the movement of the East Luzon Trough off the northeastern seaboard.

The Phivolcs chief, who earlier dismissed a report that the Philippines will be hit by an 8.1-magnitude earthquake on July 18, said earthquake swarms were common and could last for over a month.

Solidum said the tremor struck at 9:41 a.m. with its epicenter traced at 98 kilometers southeast of Baler, Aurora.

The quake was felt at Intensity 4 in Baler, Manila, Quezon City, and Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija; Intensity 3 in Makati City; Dingalan, Aurora; Baguio City; La Trinidad, Benguet; Santiago, Isabela; Pasig City and Taguig City; Intensity 2 in Lucban, Quezon; Carmona, Cavite; Calamba, Laguna; Muntinlupa, Alabang; and Intensity 1 in Daet, Camarines Norte.

Solidum said there is no organization that could predict an earthquake, its exact magnitude and date.

The so-called doomsday quake predicted by 47-year-old Brazilian teacher Juseleeno Nobulega Daroose has been circulating in e-mails, blogs and online journals.

“Occurrence of strong earthquakes in the country should be prepared for although when exactly they would occur can’t be predicted,” Solidum stressed.

“We should make houses, offices, and schools strong to resist quakes and be aware of what to do before, during and after quakes by conducting building inspections and drills,” he added.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where colliding plates in the earth’s crust cause frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Solidum said about 20 quakes hit the country everyday but only few are felt.

Quake simulation exercise

In observance of National Disaster Consciousness Month and following yesterday’s mild quakes in Metro Manila, the city government of Makati will lead a Joint Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Earthquake Simulation Exercise and Static Display today in Taguig.

The activity will be held at the old Headquarters of the National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Command Disaster Group, Army Reserve Command (ARESCOM) in Fort Bonifacio.

The exercise will showcase various response capacities of Metro Manila local government units (LGUs), national government agencies, NGOs and volunteer groups. 

To join Makati are Pasig, Olongapo and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). The earthquake response exercise will also demonstrate response capabilities and equipage.

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay said the activity is very timely, given the series of minor tremors that occurred in the metropolis and outlying areas in the past few days.

Other participants in the earthquake exercise are the Bureau of Fire-Search and Rescue Unit (BFP-SRU), Philippine K9 Search and Rescue, Philippine National Red Cross, Alpha Coy, 15th ID (RR) ARESCOM, Civil Defense Action Group (CDAG), Department of Health (DOH-NCR), CHD-MM, HEMS-NCR, and Department of Social Welfare Department (DSWD) - NCR. – With Michael Punongbayan