BREAKING: Magnitude 6.3 quake shakes Luzon on Christmas Day

MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 6.3 earthquake was recorded in several parts of Luzon on Friday morning, Christmas Day.

In an initial bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the epicenter of the quake was located 15 kilometers southwest of Calatagan, Batangas.

Phivolcs earlier reported that the quake’s epicenter was at 10 kilometers northwest of Calatagan, Batangas then revised the location to 11 kilometers.

Strong tremors were felt in the areas of Quezon City, Mandaluyong, San Juan in Metro Manila, and Rizal and parts of Cavite.

The quake, which is of tectonic origin, has a depth of 109 kilometers. State seismologists earlier said the depth of the quake was at 74 kilometers and replaced it to 102 kilometers.

The earthquake was also felt in the following areas:

Intensity V– Calatagan, Balayan, Nasugbu, Batangas City, Balayan, Calaca and San Luis, Batangas; Tagaytay City, Amadeo, Indang, Kawit and Alfonso, Cavite; Lubang and Looc, Occidental Mindoro; Biñan, Laguna

Intensity IV -Abra de Ilog and Paluan, Occidental Mindoro; Taal, San Jose, San Pascual, Lemery, Malvar and Ibaan, Batangas; Maragundon and Carmona, Cavite; San Pedro, Laguna; City of Manila; Marikina City; Quezon City; Cainta, San Mateo and Antipolo City, Rizal; Pasig City; Las Piñas City; Obando, Malolos, and Meycauyan, Bulacan; Subic and San Felipe, Zambales; Alaminos, Pangasinan; Santo Tomas, La Union; City of Mabalacat, Pampanga

Intensity III – Talisay and Santo Tomas, Batangas; Puerto Galera, Pinamalayan, Naujan, San Teodoro and Calapan, Oriental Mindoro; Caloocan City; Tanay, Rizal; San Jose Del Monte City and Plaridel, Bulacan; San Jose City and Gapan City, Nueva Ecija; Cabangan and Iba, Zambales; Samal, Bataan; Floridablanca and Santa Ana, Pampanga; Valenzuela City; Malabon City

Intensity II – San Isidro, Nueva Ecija; Alaminos City, Pangasinan; Lucban and Guinayangan, Quezon; Doña Remedios, Trinidad

Intensity I– Villasis, Pangasinan; Lucena City, Quezon

Intensity IV – Bacoor City; Tagaytay City; Carmona, Cavite; Plaridel, Calumpit, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, and Malolos, Bulacan; Guagua, Pampanga; Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Las Piñas City; Navotas City; Paranaque City; Malabon City

Intensity III – Tagaytay City; Talisay, Batangas; San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; Dagupan City; Quezon City; Pasig City; Muntinlupa City; Marikina City; San Juan City; Cabanatuan City; Calapan, Oriental Mindoro

Intensity II – Roxas, Oriental Mindoro; Lucban, Quezon; Baler, Aurora; Palayan City; San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

Intensity I – San Jose, Nueva Ecija; Gumaca, Lopez and Lucena City, Quezon

Aftershocks are expected following the quake, said Phivolcs.

EDV