Magnitude-5.4 quake rocks Baler

MANILA, Philippines—A magnitue-5.4 earthquake jolted several areas of Luzon on Thursday morning, but the tremors were not expected to cause extensive damage, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

The quake, of tectonic origin, struck at 10:27 a.m., with the epicenter at 15 km northeast of Baler town in Aurora, the agency said.

No damage to public or private infrastructure was recorded in Baler, an official of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) said.

The tremors were most strongly felt in Baler, which registered a strong Intensity 5, enough to shake buildings and cause appliances to topple over.

Palayan City and Cabiao, Bongabon and San Jose towns in Nueva Ecija, as well as Santiago City in Isabela, experienced Intensity 4 or moderately strong tremors.

The quake was also felt in Metro Manila, with Mandaluyong, Taguig and Quezon cities shaking to a weaker Intensity 3, along with Tarlac City, Cabanatuan City, Infanta in Quezon and Cauayan City in Isabela.

Intensity 2 was felt in Manila; Malolos, Bulacan; San Clemente, Tarlac, and Aglipay and Maddela towns in Quirino. Intensity 1 was recorded in Makati City and Clark, Pampanga. DJ Yap and Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon