A magnitude 5 earthquake shook Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday, according to the state seismology bureau.
The quake struck at 7:24 a.m. 58 kilometers southwest of San Jose town in the said province.
“Ito pong paglindol kanina 7:24, magnitude 5.0 mayroong mga nakaraang araw doon din sa same na lugar, ito po ay dulo ng Manila Trench kung saan mayroong pagbangga ng pinaka-block ng Palawan sa Mindoro at ito pong lindol ay naramdaman sa San Jose, Occidental Mindoro ng intensity 4,” said Undersecretary Renato Solidum, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
The earthquake had a depth of 17 kilometers tectonic origin and caused the following instrumental intensities:
Intensity III – San Jose, Occidental Mindoro
Intensity II – Roxas, Oriental Mindoro; Sebaste, Antique
Intensity I, Jamindan, Capiz.
According to Solidum, no tsunami is expected to cause the earthquake and damage but aftershocks are possible.
Phivolcs recorded five subsequent weak earthquakes in San Jose, Mindoro, minutes after the first quake.
“Ang mga paglindol lately d’yan sa San Jose, Mindoro ay hindi naman ganun kataas ang magnitude,” Solidum said in an interview with TeleRadyo Tuesday morning.
Magnitude 5 earthquake hits Occidental Mindoro: Phivolcs
Solidum explained that the Manila Trench is also active and is one of their monitors in preparation for the earthquake in Manila and neighboring provinces.
“Ang isang earthquake generator scenario natin ay Manila Trench sa kadahilanan kung may malakas na paglindol na mangyari d’yan posibleng may tsunami din maliban sa pagyanig na mararamdaman,” he said.
The movement of the West Valley Fault and Manila Trench is the scenario that local governments and disaster managers in Metro Manila are always discussing and preparing for.
“Basta earthquake-generator na trench, nand’yan ‘yung possibility na malaki. Ang importante lang, ihanda natin ang ating mga sarili at ang local government ay handang-handa sa mga possible scenarios,” he added.
Meanwhile, on February 7, a magnitude 6.3 quake struck at Magsaysay, Davao del Sur past noon on Sunday noon.
Intensity 5, rated by Phivolcs as “strong,” was felt in Kidapawan City, Arakan, Carmen, Kabacan, Makilala and M’Lang, North Cotabato; City of Koronadal and Banga, South Cotabato; Matalam, Cotabato; Bansalan, Hagonoy, Magsaysay and Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.