West Valley Fault generates quake

MANILA, Philippines - The West Valley Fault last night generated a small earthquake, which was felt in some parts of Metro Manila, but state seismologists said it was not expected to trigger a powerful tremor.

Renato Solidum, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said the magnitude 1.7 quake happened at 7:25 p.m. 

Its epicenter was initially located at one kilometer northeast of Mandaluyong City. It was reportedly felt at Intensity 2 in Mandaluyong, Antipolo, Manila and Quezon City.

 “This was small,” Solidum said when asked whether it could trigger another earthquake. However, he said Phi-volcs will closely monitor possible subsequent seismic activity.

The West Valley Fault runs from the Sierra Madre and runs through Bulacan, Rodriguez, Rizal, Quezon City, the eastern side of Metro Manila including Pasig, Taguig, Muntinlupa, San Pedro, and Sta. Rosa in Laguna and ends in Carmona, Cavite.

The fault has been projected to generate a highly destructive earthquake in Metro Manila at least seven in magnitude.

Phivolcs said Metro Manila and nearby provinces may be isolated due to collapsed roads and buildings if a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hits the capital.

The quake could cause a tsunami as high as 18 feet that could damage over 100,000 residential buildings, it said.