5.9 magnitude quake jolts Central Luzon, Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - A magnitude 5.9 earthquake rocked Central Luzon and Metro Manila yesterday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said the quake struck at 1:15 a.m. and was centered some 35 kilometers southwest of Iba, Zambales.

He said the temblor did not cause major damage or injuries but aftershocks are expected in the coming days.

The quake was felt at Intensity 5 in Iba, San Felipe, and Santa Cruz, Zambales; Intensity 4 in Clark, Pampanga; Obando, Bulacan; Quezon City; Manila; Alabang, Mun­tinlupa; and Bacoor, Cavite; Intensity 3 in cities of Makati, Pasig, Taguig, Mandaluyong, Tagaytay, Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija, and Guiguinto, Bulacan; and Intensity 2 in Baguio City.

Solidum said three unfelt aftershocks followed the main tremor before dawn yesterday. He said the quake had a depth of 30 kilometer and was tectonic in origin.

Bon Ignacio, chief of the Zambales Risk Reduction Management Office in Iba, Zambales told The Star official information they received from Phivolcs showed the quake was magnitude 6.2 in her province.

Ignacio said there were no reports of either injuries or damage resulting from the earthquake in their province.

“But it was strong enough to wake up people in Olongapo,” PO2 Alexander Biernes of the Olongapo City police said.

Many residents of Bulacan said the earthquake awakened them and some of them even went out of their houses to check possible damage on structures.

Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) chief Liz Mungcal however said no damage or injuries were reported by municipal and city disasters risk reduction offices even as she assured that they will continue to monitor possible damages on structures. – With Dino Balabo, Ding Cervantes