A magnitude 5.9 earthquake jolted Lubang, Occidental Mindoro at 4:23 pm on Tuesday, December 5, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
The quake’s epicenter was situated 18 kilometers northeast of Lubang, with a depth of focus reaching 60 kilometers.
The tremors were widely felt across Luzon, registering Intensity V in Lubang, Occidental Mindoro, and Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. Intensity IV was reported in several areas, including Makati, Quezon City, and Taguig in Metro Manila, Malolos City, Meycauayan City, Obando, and Plaridel in Bulacan, Floridablanca in Pampanga, San Jose in Batangas, and Tagaytay City in Cavite.
Intensity III was documented in various areas, including Caloocan and Pasig in Metro Manila, Cuenca and Talisay in Batangas, Bacoor City,and General Trias City in Cavite, Rodriguez in Rizal, and Mamburao in Occidental Mindoro. Meanwhile, Intensity II was recorded in Marikina City in Metro Manila, San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan, Gabaldon in Nueva Ecija, Lucban in Quezon, San Mateo in Rizal, and Odiongan in Romblon. Additionally, Intensity I was reported in San Fernando City in Pampanga, San Pedro City in Laguna, and Mauban in Quezon.
The earthquake on Tuesday afternoon prompted evacuations from buildings in parts of Metro Manila, as well as at the University of the Philippines’ Diliman, Manila, and Los Baños campuses.
Phivolcs, in its 4:53 pm bulletin on Tuesday, warned of expected aftershocks. As of the latest update, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has not released information on casualties or damages caused by the earthquake.