OCCIDENTAL MINDORO / RankWire.AI / – On Friday morning, a magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck near Occidental Mindoro, causing tremors felt across parts of Luzon and Metro Manila. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, or PHIVOLCS, initially recorded the quake at 10:38 a.m. local time. The epicenter was approximately 13 kilometers southwest of Mamburao, the provincial capital. Originating from tectonic activity, the earthquake had a depth of about 14 kilometers.
Earlier, authorities listed the event as magnitude 5.8, but subsequent analysis reduced the reading to 5.4. PHIVOLCS indicated that aftershocks might follow the main tremor. Based on the initial evaluation, no significant damage was anticipated. During late morning, residents in Mindoro experienced clear shaking, while neighboring provinces also detected weaker tremors. Parts of the capital region, more than 100 kilometers from the epicenter, were affected as well.
Mamburao recorded Intensity 5 shaking, along with several communities in Oriental Mindoro. The same level was reported in Calapan City, Naujan, Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, and Victoria. Taal in Batangas and the towns of Abra de Ilog and Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro experienced Intensity 4. Seismic instruments also registered Intensity 5 in Mamburao and Puerto Galera. Overall, the most noticeable ground movements were concentrated across Mindoro, where communities felt the strongest shaking.
Ground motion reaches Metro Manila
The seismic event extended into Metro Manila and northern provinces. Instruments detected Intensity 3 in Quezon City, Batangas City, Calapan City, and Victoria. General Trias in Cavite and San Pedro in Laguna also recorded the same intensity. Some residents in Manila evacuated buildings as a precaution during the tremor. After the shaking subsided, normal activities resumed as officials continued inspections across affected areas.
Communities in the wider Luzon region experienced lower seismic readings. Parañaque City, Santa Cruz in Laguna, and Guinayangan in Quezon all registered Intensity 2. Variations in seismic activity measurements reflected differing ground motions across locations. Initial assessments by officials indicated no major structural damages. Monitoring efforts persisted as authorities and seismic stations kept watch for additional aftershocks near Occidental Mindoro, following the main earthquake.
Official update confirms revised magnitude of 5.4
Following review of initial seismic data, experts have officially set the earthquake’s magnitude at 5.4. The depth remained roughly 14 kilometers, with the epicenter located southwest of Mamburao. The strongest ground shaking was centered in communities within Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro, while weaker tremors extended to Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, and Metro Manila. The distribution of intensity readings indicates that a broad part of Luzon experienced the effects of Friday morning’s quake.
The Philippines frequently encounters earthquakes, as multiple active tectonic boundaries surround and cross the archipelago. Seismic stations nationwide continuously monitor events and revise measurements as new data comes in. Although Friday’s earthquake centered near Occidental Mindoro caused widespread shaking, initial reports show no significant damage. Authorities remain vigilant for aftershocks, with the official magnitude now confirmed at 5.4, replacing the initial higher estimate shortly after the event.