5.3 quake, 2 others jolt parts of the country

MANILA, Philippines - Three earthquakes, with the strongest registering magnitude 5.3, rocked parts of the country yesterday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum, however, said the quakes did not cause any damage or injury.

Solidum said the magnitude 5.3 quake occurred at around 1:30 p.m. and was centered at 128 kilometers northeast of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

It was felt at Intensity 5 in Calayan, Cagayan; Intensity 3 in Claveria, Cagayan; and Intensity 2 in Pasuquin, Sarrat, Batac, and Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

Solidum said aftershocks are expected from the quake, adding though that such a magnitude is not capable of generating a tsunami.

Two moderate quakes also hit parts of the Visayas and Mindanao yesterday morning, with magnitudes 3.2 and 3.9 occurring at 6:29 a.m. and 7:06 a.m., respectively.

Solidum said the magnitude 3.9 quake, located 38 kilometers northeast of Surigao City, was felt at Intensity 2 in Surigao City and Intensity 1 in Malimono, Surigao del Norte.

Meanwhile, the epicenter of the second quake was traced at 32 kms northwest of Boac, Marinduque.

Phivolcs did not immediately indicate the areas where the magnitude 3.2 quake was felt.

The Philippines lies in the so-called Pacific “Ring of Fire” where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activities.

About 20 quakes hit the country every day but only a few are felt, Phivolcs said.