Strong quake shakes Aurora

MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 5.4 earthquake rocked Aurora yesterday morning.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the quake occurred at around 10:10 a.m. 

The epicenter of the quake was located 16 kilometers southwest of San Luis town.

Phivolcs said the quake was felt at Intensity 6, which is classified as very strong, in Baler.

The quake was felt at Intensity 5, which is classified as strong, in San Luis, Dipaculao and Maria Aurora and Intensity 4 or moderately strong in Casiguran and Dingalan in Aurora as well as in Gabaldon and Palayan City in Nueva Ecija.

It was felt at Intensity 3 in Obando, Bulacan; Villasis, Pangasinan; Parañaque City, and Antipolo City.

The quake was felt at Intensity 2 in Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija; Plaridel, Bulacan as well as the cities of Malolos, Baguio, Malabon, Navotas, Quezon and Valenzuela.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said the quake was tectonic in origin and caused by the movement of a fault in Aurora. 

“Bahagyang malakas po ito,” Solidum said at the regular Laging Handa briefing aired over state-run PTV4.

“Posible pong magkaroon ng aftershocks, posible pong mayroong minor damage,” he said.