Magnitude 6.2 earthquake strikes the Philippines – buildings are evacuated and ceiling lights shake
- Earthquake hits Mindoro province, northern Phillipines
- No major damage or deaths have been recorded
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An ‘dizzying’ earthquake has struck an island in the Phillipines forcing buildings to be evacuated.
The earthquake hit the province of Mindoro, in northern Phillipines, at 10.19am local time on Thursday, and was recorded by Geoscience Australia to have a magnitude of 6.2.
The nation’s seismology agency initially recorded the quake as a 6.2 magnitude before revising it to a 6.3, while the German seismology agency recorded it as a 6.5.
No casualties or major damages have been recorded after the quake however the seismology agency is expecting further aftershocks and damage
The tremors were felt in the capital city of Manila, about 100km north of the island, forcing three elevated railway lines to cease operations for the time being, according to Reuters.
The nation’s president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, was speaking to press at a hotel in one of the capital’s business districts when the earthquake hit, shaking ceiling lights.
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Employees of the Philippines house of Representatives were evacuated from the building during the quake, CNN Philippines reported.
The mayor of Calatagan a town just 5km from the epicenter, Peter Oliver Palacio, described the quake as ‘dizzying’ while speaking to local radio station, DZMM.
He has brought in the town’s engineering department to identify any damage from the earthquake.
The area has been experiencing volcanic activity recently, with the Mayon Volcano, about 200km east from the earthquake’s epicenter, having been erupting since April 27 according to the Smithsonian Institute.
The volcano could be seen lightly spewing out lava on Sunday,
There are around 300 volcanoes strewn across the nation, 24 of which are active, making it one of the more volcanically active regions in the world.
More to come.
