6.5-magnitude quake hits Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY - A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck in Sulu Sea, some 200 kilometers northwest of this city Monday afternoon, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvocs).

Philvolcs monitoring chief for Zamboanga City Engr. Allan Labayog said the tremor occurred at 5:29 p.m. with the epicenter traced in Sulu Sea between the waters of Zamboanga Peninsula and Palawan.

Labayog said the earthquake was hardly felt in this city with intensity 4 while areas of Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte; Dumaguete City in Negros, Bayawan City, and Ilo-Ilo City felt the tremor at intensity 2.

Authorities in this city have not received reports of damage in infrastructure.

A tsunami alert has not been raised.

Krizel Guevarra, a vendor in a flea market here, said she felt the tremor and experienced dizziness.