3 quakes rock parts of Luzon

MANILA, Philippines—Three separate earthquakes rocked various parts of Luzon on Saturday, the strongest one a magnitude-5.4 tremor that had its epicenter off Lubang, Occidental Mindoro, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

The quake which struck at 2:29 a.m. was felt at Intensity 4 in Looc and Lubang, and at Intensity 3 in Puerto Galera, San Teodoro and Baco, Oriental Mindoro; Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro; Quezon City, Manila, Makati, Muntinlupa, Marikina and Guiguinto, Bulacan.

No aftershocks or damage were reported.

Later at 11:49 a.m., a 3.3-magnitude tremor was recorded off Casiguran, Aurora.

Shortly after, a weaker quake occurred at 12:15 a.m. with its epicenter located off Polillo Island. No aftershocks or damage were reported from these quakes either. There were no recorded intensities for the last two quakes.

The US Geological Survey registered the first quake at 5.2 magnitude at a relatively shallow depth of 24 kilometers.

Earthquakes are a cause for concern in the country after the killer temblors that hit Japan, New Zealand and China recently.

Leila B. Salaverria; Agence France-Presse

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