West Valley Fault

Early this morning Sunday at 3:18 a.m. a magnitude 5.4 earthquake rock the province of Occidental Mindoro. The quake struck at 20 kilometers northeast of Lubang Island with a depth of 76 kilometers.

According to Philippine Institute of Vulcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) it was tectonic in origin with the tremor felt as far away as Metro Manila and other nearby provinces.

The following intensities were recorded:

• Intensity IV – Makati, Manila, Parañaque
• Intensity III – Malabon, Mandaluyong, Pasay, Pateros, Quezon City, Taguig in Metro Manila; Tagaytay in Cavite; Calapan and Puerto Galera in Oriental  Mindoro; Calatagan and Lipa City in Batangas

Instrumental Intensities:

• Intensity IV – Calatagan, Batangas; Malolos City, and San Ildefonso, Bulacan; Navotas City
• Intensity III – Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro; Talisay, Batangas; Bacoor City, and Tagaytay City, Cavite; Muntinlupa City; Guagua, Pampanga
• Intensity II – Magalang, Pampanga; San Juan City
• Intensity I – San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; Palayan City, and San Jose City, Nueva Ecija; Gumaca, Quezon; Baler, Aurora

The quake prompted a lot of people to turn to social media to share their experiences with some fearing for the worst.

The following series of earthquakes occurred right after:

3:51 a.m. – a magnitude 2.9, 37 kilometers northeast of Bordeos, Quezon.
3:56 a.m. – a medium strength earthquake with a magnitude of 4.2, struck 19 kilometers southeast of Claveria, Masbate with a depth of 5 kilometers.
4:08 a.m. – a magnitude 2.8, 116 kilometers southeast of Gov. Generoso, Davao Oriental.
4:20 a.m. – a magnitude 2.4, 3 kilometers northeast of San Isidro, Surigao del Norte.
4:21 a.m. – a magnitude 2.4, 49 kilometers southwest of San Esteban, Ilocos Sur.
4:23 a.m. – a magnitude 2.0, 34 kilometers northeast of Burgos, Surigao del Norte.
5:12 a.m. – a magnitude 2.3, 4 kilometers southwest of Gen. Luna, Surigao del Norte.
5:20 a.m. – a magnitude 2.6 reported 4 kilometers northeast of Pilar, Surigao del Norte.
5:37 a.m. – a magnitude 2.5, 66 kilometers northeast of Burgos, Surigao del Norte.
6:01 a.m. – a magnitude 2.0, 6 kilometers northeast of Malabacat, Pampanga.
6:21 a.m. – a magnitude 2.0, 51 kilometers northeast of Cortes, Surigao del Sur.
7:30 a.m. – a magnitude 1.7, 4 kilometers southwest of Calatagan, Batangas. Depth of 33 kilometers.
8:05 a.m. – a magnitude 1.9, 18 kilometers southeast of Calatagan, Batangas. Depth of 86 kilometers.
8:51 a.m. – a magnitude 2.3, 5 kilometers southeast of Aeosan, North Cotabato.

Another earthquake followed in Davao Occidental with a magnitude of 4.2 at 8:57 a.m. Epicenter of the tremor was 426 kilometers southeast of Sarangani.

9:11 a.m. – a mild earthquake with a magnitude of 2.8 struck 34 kilometers southeast of Governor Generoso, Davao Occidental.
9:35 a.m. – another quickly followed in Sarangani, with the epicenter located 42 kilometers southwest of Kiamba, Sarangani with a magnitude of 2.4.
9:45 a.m. – a magnitude 2.2 earthquake hit 6 kilometers northeast of Medelin, Cebu.
10:05 a.m. – a magnitude 2.8 tremor was reported in Dinalungan, Aurora.
10:21 a.m. – possibly an aftershock in Burdeos, Quezon with a magnitude of 2.2.

Aftershocks are expected but no damages reported so far.

Sources: ABSCBNNews/Inquirer/Phivolcs