Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Earthquake hits central RP (1:50 p.m.)
MANILA -- A strong earthquake shook the central Philippines early Tuesday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, the government's earthquake monitoring agency said.
The magnitude 5.1 temblor occurred at 7:43 a.m. and was centered undersea, 45 kilometers off San Jose town in Mindoro Occidental province, which is about 260 kilometers south of Manila.
Seismologist Ric Mangao of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the epicenter was 21 kilometers below the earth's surface, which is relatively shallow but not powerful enough to cause a tsunami.
He said the tremor, which was felt at the popular resort island of Boracay, was caused by the collision of two fault lines. Some aftershocks were expected, he added.
The Philippines is part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where earthquakes and volcanic activities are frequent. (AP)
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