Earthquakes of magnitude 5.3, 4.9 strike off Jomalig, Quezon

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Wednesday morning reported that a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck waters off Jomalig, Quezon  (Photo courtesy of Phivolcs)

MANILA, Philippines — Two earthquakes with a magnitude 5.3 and 4.9 struck the waters of Jomalig, Quezon, and were felt in parts of Luzon Wednesday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

The magnitude 5.3 quake occurred at 7:16 a.m., some 43 kilometers (km) northeast of Jomalig, while the second struck at 7:55 a.m.

Phivolcs said the first earthquake was felt at Intensity III in Quezon City, while instrumental intensities were logged in the following areas:

• Intensity IV – Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte
• Intensity III – Mauban, Guinayangan, Alabat, and General Nakar, Quezon; Daet, Camarines Norte; Tinambac, Camarines Sur
• Intensity II – Dingalan, Aurora; Gumaca, Lopez, Mulanay, and Calauag, Quezon; Sagnay, Pasacao, and Ragay, Camarines Sur; Los Baños, Laguna; City of Marikina; City of Tagaytay, Cavite
• Intensity I – Dolores and Lucban, Quezon; City of Calamba, Laguna; Boac, Marinduque; City of Iriga, Camarines Sur; Antipolo City and Tanay, Rizal; San Rafael and Marilao, Bulacan; City of Tabaco, Albay; City of Pasig; City of Caloocan<

Phivolcs said the second earthquake logged the following intensities:

• Intensity IV – Polillo, Quezon
• Intensity III – Guinayangan, Alabat, Tagkawayan, Calauag, and Panukulan, Quezon; City of Makati; Quezon City
• Intensity II – Lopez and Gumaca, Quezon

Meanwhile, instrumental intensities were logged in the following places:

• Intensity IV – Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte
• Intensity III – Mauban, Alabat, Guinayangan, and General Nakar, Quezon; Daet, Camarines Norte; Tinambac, Camarines Sur
• Intensity II – Daet, Camarines Norte; City of Tagaytay, Cavite; Gumaca, Mulanay, and Calauag, Quezon
• Intensity I – San Rafael and Pandi, Bulacan; Calamba, Laguna; City of Antipolo and Tanay, Rizal; Tinambac, Pasacao, and Ragay, Camarines Sur; Boac, Marinduque; Pasig City

Both temblors were tectonic in origin with a depth of focus of 1 km.

Aftershocks are expected, but no damage to property is anticipated, Phivolcs added.

Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol noted that the second earthquake is not an aftershock of the earlier temblor.

A reported intensity is the strength of an earthquake as felt and reported by people, according to Phivolcs, while instrumental intensity is measured by an intensity meter or scale.