Magnitude 5.7 quake hits Occidental Mindoro

MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Occidental Mindoro early Monday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

The epicenter of the earthquake was traced 23 kilometers off the town of Looc, Occidental Mindoro. It had a depth of 74 kilometers.

The earthquake, recorded at 1:12 a.m., was of tectonic origin, according to Phivolcs. It was felt as far away as Metro Manila with residents woken by their buildings shaking.

“It was really strong,” Jose Clyde Yayong, a disaster officer in Tagaytay city in the neighboring province of Cavite.

“So far there are no untoward incidents relating to the earthquake.”

Leonardo Tristan, a disaster officer in Looc town said the force of the quake sent some residents rushing outside.

The Philippines is regularly rocked by quakes due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

The following earthquake intensities were registered in these areas:

Intensity V: Tagaytay City; Amadeo, Cavite

Intensity IV:  Malolos City and Obando, Bulacan; Manila, Marikina City; San Mateo, Rizal; Las Piñas City; General Trias and Tanza, Cavite; and San Juan City

Intensity III: Quezon City, Pasig City, Makati City, Antipolo City, Valenzuela City

Intensity II: Palayan City, Nueva Ecija

Instrumental Intensity V: Tagaytay City

Instrumental Intensity I: Palayan City, Nueva Ecija

Damage and aftershocks are to be expected following the earthquake, said Phivolcs.

/MUF