5.3 quake rocks parts of Southern Luzon, Metro

MANILA, Philippines - A magnitude 5.3 earthquake rocked some parts of Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila, yesterday but did not cause damage or injuries, state seismologists said.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the tremor occurred at around 4:03 a.m. and was centered 18 kilometers southwest of Looc, Occidental Mindoro.

It was felt at Intensity 4 in Looc and Lubang, Occidental Mindoro; Intensity 3 in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Quezon City, and Muntinlupa City; Intensity 2 in Calapan and Naujan, Oriental Mindoro; and Intensity 1 in Lucban, Quezon.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said the earthquake in Occidental Mindoro was not related to the magnitude 5.2 tremor in Masbate last Tuesday.

He said the quake in Occidental Mindoro was caused by a movement along the Lubang Fault.

The quake had a depth of 16 kilometers and was tectonic in origin. Tectonic pertains to the movement of the earth’s crust.

Phivolcs said the quake is likely to produce aftershocks.

Meanwhile, Phivolcs yesterday continued to record aftershocks from the magnitude 5.2 quake that struck Masbate.

The latest aftershock measuring magnitude 3.0 was recorded at around 8:40 a.m. yesterday. Its epicenter was traced at seven kms northeast of Masbate City, where it was felt at Intensity 3.