5.9 quake hits Occidental Mindoro

MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 5.9 earthquake jolted Occidental Mindoro yesterday afternoon, with intensities felt in nearby areas in Luzon as well as in the National Capital Region (NCR), according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Phivolcs said the epicenter of the quake, which occurred at 4:23 p.m., was located 18 kilometers north of Lubang town.

The quake rocked parts of Bulacan and Pampanga as well as Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and the NCR.

It was felt at Intensity 5 in Lubang as well as in Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro.

Intensity 4 was felt in Makati, Quezon City and Taguig; San Jose in Batangas; Tagaytay in Cavite; Malolos, Meycauayan, Obando and Plaridel in Bulacan, and Floridablanca in Pampanga.

Intensity 3 was felt in Caloocan and Pasig as well as in Cuenca and Talisay in Batangas, Bacoor and General Trias in Cavite, Rodriguez in Rizal and Mamburao in Occidental Mindoro.

Phivolcs said Intensity 2 was recorded in Marikina as well as in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan, Gabaldon in Nueva Ecija, Lucban in Quezon, San Mateo in Rizal and Odiongan in Romblon.

Intensity 1 was recorded in San Pedro, Laguna; San Fernando, Pampanga, and Mauban, Quezon

State seismologists said instrumental intensities 1 to 5 were recorded in some parts of Cavite, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro and Quezon as well as in the NCR.

The quake, which was tectonic in origin, was not expected to cause damage, but it may generate aftershocks, Phivolcs said. — Ramon Efren Lazaro