Thursday, March 02, 2006
Earthquake jolts capital, shakes buildings
MANILA -- A moderate earthquake jolted Manila Wednesday evening, causing buildings to sway, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The magnitude-5.5 quake hit at 7:04 p.m. and was centered 50 kilometers west-southwest of Batangas and about 125 kilometers south-southwest of Manila, the US Geological Survey said.
It was caused by a movement of the Lubang Fault northeast of Lubang Island, said Renato Solidum, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
"So far we have no report of any significant incidents in other
places," Solidum said in a radio interview.
He said the earthquake, although centered at a "shallow" depth of 20 kilometers below the surface, was not strong enough to cause serious damage.
He said the tremor was "a bit strong" on Lubang and was also felt in several Manila suburbs and as far north as San Fernando City in Pampanga province, about 70 kilometers north of
Manila.
The Philippines is in the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where volcanic activities and earthquakes are frequent. (AP)
(March 2, 2006 issue)
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