MANILA, Philippines – A moderate earthquake struck central Luzon on Thursday morning, shaking buildings and rattling windows across a wide swath of the region.
The 5.7-magnitude quake hit roughly 3 kilometers east of Tarlac City at around 6 a.m. local time, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
The tremor was felt as far north as Ilocos Sur and as far south as Pampanga, with instrumental intensities ranging from I to III on the scale.
“It was a pretty good jolt, enough to wake me up and get me out of bed,” said Tarlac City resident Maricris Gonzalez. “The house was shaking for what felt like 10-15 seconds. I immediately checked on my family to make sure everyone was okay.”
While no major damage or injuries have been reported, the earthquake served as a stark reminder of the seismic activity that frequently rattles the Philippines.
Phivolcs said the quake was tectonic in origin, meaning it was caused by the movement of underground fault lines, and occurred at a depth of 199 kilometers.
Aftershocks are likely in the coming hours and days, the agency noted, but the tremor is not expected to result in significant damage.
“These types of earthquakes are fairly common in the Philippines, which sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire,” said Phivolcs director Renato Solidum. “While they can be alarming in the moment, the depth of this quake meant the shaking was less severe closer to the surface.”
Residents across the affected provinces reported items falling off shelves and windows shaking, but no structural damage to homes or buildings has been reported thus far.
The earthquake came just days after a stronger 6.0-magnitude tremor struck off the coast of Zambales province, underscoring the seismic risks that Filipinos must be prepared to face.
