Magnitude 5.5 quake rattles Quezon, parts of Luzon 

MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 5.5 earthquake rattled Quezon province Thursday morning, which was also felt in parts of Metro Manila, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

The earthquake struck at 4:52 a.m. at 42 kilometers northeast of Jomalig, Quezon.

Phivolcs said the tremor was of tectonic origin, and had a seven-kilometer depth of focus.

Reported Intensities: 

Intensity V – Jomalig and Alabat, Quezon

Intensity IV – Guinayangan, Quezon; Talisay and Vinzons, Camarines Norte
Intensity III – Real, General Nakar and Lopez, Quezon

Intensity II – Marikina City; Navotas City; Quezon City; Antipolo City; Pasay City; Lucban and Gumaca, Quezon; Plaridel, Bulacan; Nagcarlan, Laguna

Intensity I- Muntinlupa City; Dinalupihan, Bataan

Instrumental Intensities:

Intensity V – Polillo, Quezon

Intensity IV – Guinayangan, Quezon; Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte

Intensity III – Pili, Camarines Sur; Mauban, Lopez, General Nakar and Mulanay, Quezon

Intensity II – Marikina City; Malolos City, Bulacan; Gumaca and Dolores, Quezon; Baler, Aurora

Intensity I – Lucban, Quezon; Iriga City, Camarines Sur; Malabon City; San Juan City; Quezon City; Pasig City; Guagua, Pampanga; Talisay, Batangas; Palayan City, Nueva Ecija; Taal, Batangas; Legazpi City, Albay

While no damage was expected from the quake, Phivolcs warned residents of possible aftershocks.

“As of now, no untoward incident monitored in our area of responsibility,” Melchor Avenilla, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC), said in a text to Inquirer Thursday morning.

Avenilla said the local disaster risk reduction management offices in other parts of the province are still assessing the situation in their localities. /gsg

Read more...