Magnitude 4.8 quake jolts Central Luzon; Intensity II felt in Quezon City

(Updated, 8:24 p.m., March 15, 2021)

MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 4.8 earthquake was felt in several parts of Central Luzon and in Metro Manila, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Monday night.

Zambales quake graph from Phivolcs

A latest bulletin from Phivolcs upgraded the earthquake’s intensity to 4.8 from the previous magnitude of 4.3, and reassigned the epicenter to 23 kilometers southwest of Iba, Zambales, at a new depth of 26 kilometers.

Previously, Phivolcs said that the tectonic earthquake’s epicenter was found 17 kilometers southwest of Iba.

New reported Intensities were added, as Phivolcs said that Intensity IV was felt in Iba, Botolan, Cabangan, and San Felipe of Zambales.

Intensity III:

Zambales:

• Olongapo City
• San Antonio
• San Marcelino
• San Narciso
• Palauig
• Subic

Pampanga:

• Floridablanca

Intensity II:

Zambales:

• Candelaria
• Masinloc
• Santa Cruz

Pampanga:

• Mabalacat City
• Villasis

Metro Manila:

• Makati
• Malabon
• Manila
• Quezon City

Other instrumental intensities were also recorded:

Intensity II:

• Guagua, Pampanga

Intensity I:

• Quezon City
• Marikina
• Calumpit City, Bulacan,
• Dagupan City, Pangasinan
• San Jose City, Nueva Ecija

Prior to Phivolcs’ bulletin, netizens from Luzon who posted on social media said that they felt an earthquake.

Just had a small #EarthquakePH . @USGS_Quakes #bataan #Philippines

— Bill Peterson (@Bukas_Na_Lang) March 15, 2021

https://twitter.com/supseerior/status/1371422448885796866

Strong here in Zambales Cabangan #EarthquakePH

— Roy Grimm – American Christian Conservative 🏝 (@GrimmRoy) March 15, 2021

Phivolcs said that no damage and no aftershocks are expected as of now.

This is a developing story, and will be updated.

EDV