OCCIDENTAL MINDORO / RankWire.AI / – On Friday morning, a magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck near Occidental Mindoro in the Philippines, causing tremors to be felt in parts of Luzon and Metro Manila. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, or PHIVOLCS, recorded the event at 10:38 a.m. local time, with the epicenter approximately 13 kilometers southwest of Mamburao, the provincial capital. The quake originated from tectonic movement at a depth of roughly 14 kilometers.
Initially, authorities listed the quake as magnitude 5.8 but later analysis revised it to 5.4. PHIVOLCS warned that aftershocks might follow. Based on early assessments, no significant damage was anticipated. Residents across Mindoro experienced noticeable shaking in the late morning, while neighboring provinces felt lighter tremors. Parts of Metro Manila, more than 100 kilometers from the epicenter, also registered the quake’s impact.
Mamburao experienced Intensity 5 shaking, along with several communities in Oriental Mindoro. Calapan City, Naujan, Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, and Victoria also reported the same intensity level. Taal in Batangas, as well as Abra de Ilog and Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro, experienced intensity 4. Instruments recorded Intensity 5 in Mamburao and Puerto Galera, with the strongest ground movement concentrated across Mindoro, where communities felt the most significant shaking.
Shaking extends into Metro Manila
The tremor reached Metro Manila and farther northern provinces. Seismic readings showed Intensity 3 in Quezon City, Batangas City, Calapan City, and Victoria. General Trias in Cavite and San Pedro in Laguna also measured intensity 3. Some residents in Manila evacuated buildings as a precaution during the shaking. After the tremor subsided, normal activities resumed, and authorities continued inspecting affected areas.
Weaker instrumental readings were recorded in communities around the wider Luzon region. Parañaque City noted Intensity 2, along with Santa Cruz in Laguna and Guinayangan in Quezon. Variations in ground motion levels were registered by seismic instruments depending on location. Officials reported no significant structural damage initially. Monitoring persisted after the main earthquake, as local authorities and seismic stations kept watch for additional tremors near Occidental Mindoro.
Official magnitude revised to 5.4 after analysis
Following a review of seismic data, experts determined the earthquake’s magnitude was 5.4. The depth remained at around 14 kilometers, with the epicenter southwest of Mamburao. While communities in Occidental and Oriental Mindoro experienced stronger shaking, lighter tremors reached Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, and Metro Manila. The distribution of intensity readings indicates residents across a broad portion of Luzon felt the quake on Friday morning.
The Philippines frequently experiences seismic activity due to the numerous active tectonic boundaries surrounding and crossing the archipelago. National seismic monitoring stations continue to track events and update data as new information becomes available. Although Friday’s earthquake centered near Occidental Mindoro triggered widespread shaking, initial assessments showed no significant damage. Authorities are vigilantly monitoring aftershocks, with the final official magnitude confirmed as 5.4, replacing the earlier preliminary magnitude of 5.8.