Mild quakes jolt S. Luzon, N. Mindanao

A mild tectonic earthquake jolted several provinces in Southern Luzon at 6:30 a.m. yesterday, while another tremor hit Northern Mindanao at 9:21 a.m., the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Phivolcs said the Luzon quake was triggered by the movement of the Manila Trench straddling the west side of the archipelago from the northern tip of Luzon to the southwestern tip of Mindoro island. Its epicenter was located 52 kilometers south of Batangas City.

The tremor registered a Magnitude 5.4 on the Richter Scale, but was felt at only Intensity 2 in Tagaytay City in Batangas and in Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental, and at Intensity 1 in Quezon City, Clark Field in Pampanga, and in Lucban and Guinayangan in Quezon.

Phivolcs said the quake was not expected to cause any damage, but that aftershocks were expected.

Meanwhile, volcanologists said the Northern Mindanao tremor was triggered by the movement of the Philippine Trench, and its epicenter was located 52 kilometers north of Mati, Davao Oriental.

While it registered a Magnitude 5.4 on the Richter Scale, the tremor was felt at only Intensity 1 in Surigao City, Bislig in Surigao del Sur, Davao City, and General Santos City.

Phivolcs said no damage or aftershocks were expected. — Felix de los Santos