Strong quake jolts Mindoro Occidental

A strong earthquake shook Mindoro Occidental yesterday morning, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, the government’s earthquake monitoring agency said.

The magnitude 5.1 quake, which lasted for 10 seconds, occurred at 7:43 a.m. and was centered undersea, 45 kilometers off the town of San Jose.

The tectonic quake was felt at Intensity 5 in San Jose; Intensity 4 in Odiongan, Romblon; Intensity 3 in Boracay; Intensity 2 in Mogpoc, Marinduque and Kalibo, Aklan; and Intensity 1 in the cities of Roxas, Pasay and Quezon.

Seismologist Ric Mangao of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the epicenter was 21 kilometers below the earth’s surface, relatively shallow but not powerful enough to cause a tsunami.

He said the tremor was caused by the collision of two fault lines. Some aftershocks were expected, he added.

Bart Bautista, Phivolcs deputy director, said the quake had "no connection" with the ones that struck Panaon Island in Southern Leyte the other day.

He said the San Jose area is really "active seismically" since it lies southwest of the so-called Mindoro "collision zone."

The Philippines is part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where earthquakes and volcanic activities are frequent. — Sheila Crisostomo, Arnell Ozaeta