MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude-5.7 earthquake struck Looc town in Occidental Mindoro before dawn yesterday, which was felt in Metro Manila and several provinces in Luzon.
A bulletin issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the quake occurred at 1:12 a.m. with its epicenter located 18 kilometers northeast of Looc.
The quake, which was tectonic in origin, roused residents in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog.
People, especially those living in high-rise buildings were forced to rush to the exit.
The temblor was felt at Intensity 4 in Calatagan, Lian, Lipa, Malvar and Nasugbu, all in Batangas; Malolos and Obando in Bulacan; Amadeo, Bacoor, Cavite City, Dasmariñas, General Trias, Naic, Tagaytay and Tanza, all in Cavite; Biñan and Cabuyao, both in Laguna; Abra de Ilog, Looc, Lubang and Mamburao, all in Occidental Mindoro; Baco, Naujan and Puerto Galera, all in Oriental Mindoro, and San Mateo and Taytay, both in Rizal as well as in Las Piñas, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, San Juan, Taguig and Pateros in Metro Manila.
Intensity 3 was felt in Santo Tomas, Batangas; Makati, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City and Valenzuela, all in Metro Manila; Santa Cruz in Occidental Mindoro; Antipolo City in Rizal, and Socorro in Oriental Mindoro.
Intensity 2 was recorded in Los Baños, Laguna and Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, and Intensity 1 in Arayat, Pampanga.
Two aftershocks followed shortly after the quake, Phivolcs said. – Michael Punongbayan