Magnitude 6 quake rocks Zambo, injures at least 3 people

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED: 1:33 p.m.) — Officials say an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6 rattled a southern region as people slept, collapsing the walls of three houses and injuring at least three people.

Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) says the early Thursday earthquake was centered under the sea northwest of Zamboanga del Norte province. The quake wasn't strong enough to trigger a tsunami, he says.

In its advisory, Phivolcs said the magnitude 6 quake was felt at Intensity 5 in Zamboanga City; Intensity 4 in Baliguian, Gutalac, Ipil, Labason, Siocon, Sibuco, and Titay, Zamboanga Del Norte; and Isabela City, Basilan; Intensity 3 in Sirawai and Liloy, Zamboanga Del Norte and Intensity 2 in Dipolog City; Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental

The quake, which occurred at 2:21 a.m., had a depth of 16 kilometers and was tectonic in origin.

Police Superintendent Luisito Magnaye says the quake caused the walls of three houses to collapse in a village in Zamboanga City, injuring at least three residents, who were taken to a hospital.

Dr. Elmeir Apolinario, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) chief, said three members of a family were injured when the quake caused the walls to collapse at Sitio Kalinaw, Barangay Sinunuc, west of Zamboanga City.

Two more houses in the area also collapsed, the CDRRMO chief said. 

“We saw a portion of our firewall collapsed outward,” Bryan Rambo, a resident told a local radio.

The city government immediately advised residents in the coastal areas to be wary of possible aftershocks and to stay alert.

There was no immediate report of damages in other areas of Zamboanga peninsula except the city.

The Philippine archipelago lies in the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where earthquakes and volcanic activities are common. — with report from AP and Roel Pareño