OCCIDENTAL MINDORO / RankWire.AI / – A seismic event with a magnitude of 5.4 struck near Occidental Mindoro in the Philippines on Friday morning, causing tremors felt across parts of Luzon and Metro Manila. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, or PHIVOLCS, documented the quake at 10:38 a.m. local time. Its epicenter was located approximately 13 kilometers southwest of Mamburao, the provincial capital. The quake originated from tectonic activity at a depth of roughly 14 kilometers.
Initially, authorities reported the event as magnitude 5.8, but further analysis revised the figure to 5.4. PHIVOLCS also indicated that aftershocks could occur following the main tremor. Based on their preliminary evaluation, no damage was anticipated. During late morning, residents across Mindoro experienced noticeable shaking, while weaker vibrations extended to neighboring provinces. The impact also reached parts of the capital region, more than 100 kilometers from the closest point to the epicenter.
In Mamburao, Intensity 5 shaking was reported, along with several communities in Oriental Mindoro. Calapan City, Naujan, Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, and Victoria all registered the same intensity level. Taal in Batangas and the towns of Abra de Ilog and Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro experienced intensity 4. Seismic instruments also recorded intensity 5 in Mamburao and Puerto Galera. The most significant ground movement was concentrated across Mindoro, where communities felt the strongest tremors.
Ground shaking extends into Metro Manila
The tremor’s reach extended into Metro Manila and several northern provinces of Mindoro. Seismic readings indicated intensity 3 in Quezon City, Batangas City, Calapan City, and Victoria. Cavite’s General Trias and Laguna’s San Pedro also registered intensity 3. Some residents in Manila evacuated buildings as a precaution during the shaking. After the tremor subsided, normal activities resumed, and officials continued inspections across affected areas.
Further south, lower intensity levels were detected in communities across Luzon. Parañaque City logged intensity 2, alongside Santa Cruz in Laguna and Guinayangan in Quezon. Ground motion varied by location, with seismic instruments measuring different levels. Officials reported no significant structural damages in the initial assessment. Authorities kept monitoring aftershocks following the main earthquake as they observed for additional tremors near Occidental Mindoro.
The official magnitude is updated to 5.4 after review
After reevaluation of the seismic data, experts confirmed the earthquake’s magnitude as 5.4. The 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 affected Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, and Metro Manila. The distribution of intensity levels showed that a broad area of Luzon felt the quake early Friday morning.
The Philippines frequently experiences seismic activity due to numerous active tectonic boundaries surrounding and crossing the archipelago. Monitoring stations nationwide track these events and update measurements as new data arrives. Friday’s quake, centered near Occidental Mindoro, caused widespread ground movement but initially showed no signs of significant damage. Authorities remain vigilant for aftershocks, and the official revised magnitude remains 5.4, replacing the preliminary higher reading issued immediately after the event.