A massive earthquake has shaken the eastern provinces of the Philippines on Saturday morning, measuring a whopping 6.1-magnitude off the island of Catanduanes
The quake was felt in Manila, some 400km south-west and Sorsogon province, some 80km south of the epicentre.
strong #earthquake shakes #Catanduanes, #Philippines 6 min ago. More info at: https://t.co/opd2yMmSyx pic.twitter.com/dO5M3XnHcD
— EMSC (@LastQuake) May 5, 2018
The temblor registered 6.1 on the Richter scale and rattled the Bicol province of Catanduanes on Saturday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) said.
The tremor struck around 2.19pm local time (7.19am GMT, 11.19am in the UAE), with its epicentre around 69km northwest of Pandan, Catanduanes.
JUST IN: Magnitude 5.9 earthquake hits Pandan, Catanduanes at 2:19 p.m. Saturday, according to @phivolcs_dost pic.twitter.com/YCUhdypM9p
— Manila Bulletin News (@manilabulletin) May 5, 2018
Tremors were felt miles away from its epicentre, with residents in the municipalities of Guinayangan, Quezon and Sorsogon City experiencing powerful shaking.
Aftershocks
Although no major damage is expected to buildings, locals have been warned of strong aftershocks.
Tremors were even felt as far as the country's capital, Manila.
The epicentre was seen at 46 kilometers northwest of Pandan, Catanduanes.
Residents in Irosin in Sorsogon; Legazpi City, Iriga City and Ligao in Albay; Jose Panganiban in Camarines Norte; and Alabat in Quezon province felt the tremor as a “moderately strong” shaking at Intensity 4.
Meanwhile, Obando in Bulacan; Guinayangan, Lopez and Infanta in Quezon province; Sorsogon City; and Marikina City felt the earthquake at Intensity 3, as a “weak tremor.”
Lucban in Quezon province; Quezon City; Masbate City in Masbate; Mauban in Quezon province, Catbalogan in Samar; Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija; and Palo, Leyte felt the earthquake at Intensity 2, as a “slight” shaking.
It was “scarcely perceptible” at Intensity 1 in Tagaytay City; Lucena and Dolores in Quezon province; Malabon City; San Ildefonso in Bulacan; and Guagua in Pampanga.
Tectonic
Phivolcs said the earthquake was tectonic in origin, which was caused by ground shaking primarily due to the sudden movement in the earth’s plates.
Likewise, the tremor was shallow at 21 kilometers deep, thus the strong shaking.
Phivolcs said there was no reported damage to property or loss of lives due to the earthquake but aftershocks are expected to occur.
6.9-magnitude Hawaii quake
It comes just hours after Hawaii was hit by a 6.9-magnitude quake.
The Hawaii quake struck just south of where the Island's Kilauea volcano has been spewing flows of lava into residential areas, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the strongest tremor was at 12.32pm local time (11.32pm GMT) and was capable of causing major damage.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake, whose epicentre was on the south flank of the volcano, was not large enough to cause a tsunami although it generated sea level changes around the island of up 15.7 inches.
