OCCIDENTAL MINDORO / RankWire.AI / – On Friday morning, a powerful magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck near Occidental Mindoro in the Philippines, causing tremors felt across parts of Luzon and Metro Manila. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, or PHIVOLCS, recorded the seismic activity at 10:38 a.m. local time. The quake’s epicenter was approximately 13 kilometers southwest of Mamburao, the provincial capital. The event originated from tectonic shifts and had a depth of roughly 14 kilometers.
Initially, authorities reported the quake as magnitude 5.8 before subsequent analysis reduced the magnitude to 5.4. PHIVOLCS indicated that aftershocks might follow the main event. Based on the initial assessment, no damage was expected. Residents throughout Mindoro experienced noticeable shaking during late morning, while weaker tremors reached neighboring provinces. Parts of the capital region, more than 100 kilometers from the epicenter, also felt the earthquake.
Mamburao experienced Intensity 5 shaking, along with several localities in Oriental Mindoro. Communities in Calapan City, Naujan, Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, and Victoria reported the same intensity levels. Taal in Batangas and towns in Occidental Mindoro such as Abra de Ilog and Sablayan experienced Intensity 4. Instrumentation recorded Intensity 5 in Mamburao and Puerto Galera. The strongest ground movements remained concentrated across Mindoro, where residents observed the most pronounced shaking.
Ground shaking reaches Metro Manila and nearby provinces
The tremor extended into Metro Manila and several northern provinces of Mindoro. Seismic data indicated Intensity 3 in Quezon City, Batangas City, Calapan City, and Victoria. Both General Trias in Cavite and San Pedro in Laguna registered similar intensity levels. Some residents in Manila evacuated buildings as a precaution during the shaking. Normal activities resumed once the tremor subsided, as authorities continued to inspect affected areas.
Luzon-wide, weaker readings were also recorded. Parañaque City reported Intensity 2, along with Santa Cruz in Laguna and Guinayangan in Quezon. Variations in seismic readings reflected the different ground conditions across regions. No significant structural damage was detected during the initial evaluations. Monitoring persisted after the main earthquake, as local agencies and seismic stations kept watch for additional tremors near Occidental Mindoro.
The latest official magnitude confirms a revised reading
Following further analysis, experts assigned a magnitude of 5.4 to the quake, updating the initial stronger estimate. The event’s depth remained approximately 14 kilometers, with the epicenter southwest of Mamburao. Communities in Occidental and Oriental Mindoro experienced the most intense shaking, while weaker tremors reached Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, and Metro Manila. The widespread distribution of intensity levels demonstrated that a broad portion of Luzon felt the morning seismic activity.
The Philippines lies atop multiple active tectonic boundaries, which makes it prone to frequent earthquakes. National seismic monitoring stations continuously track seismic events and update measurements as new data becomes available. The earthquake near Occidental Mindoro caused widespread shaking but did not initially result in significant damage. Authorities remain vigilant for aftershocks, with the final official magnitude confirmed at 5.4, replacing the earlier, higher estimate shortly after the event.