Magnitude 6.1 earthquake rocks southern Luzon

A MAGNITUDE 6.1 earthquake struck off southern Luzon early Sunday morning, with intensities of up to three felt in cities within the capital region Metro Manila, the state seismology agency reported.

The tremor, with epicenter off the coastal town of Calatagan, was recorded at 5:50 a.m. with a depth of 122 kilometers, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Aftershocks and damage were expected, but the agency issued a “no tsumani threat” advisory following the earthquake.

There was no immediate report of major damage from the Calatagan municipal disaster response office.

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake is described as “very strong,” based on Phivolcs’ 10-level intensity scale. It can move heavy furniture while old or poorly built houses and other man-made structures could be “slightly damaged.”

Calatagan in Batangas, a popular beach destination, felt an intensity 4 tremor.

Puerto Galera in the nearby island province of Oriental Mindoro also reported intensity 4.

Intensity 3 was reported in Quezon City, Pasay City, and Pasig City in Metro Manila; Tagaytay City; and several towns in Cavite, Bulacan, and Pampanga as well as Olongapo City in Zambales.

Intensity 2 was felt in several parts of Metro Manila, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Rizal, and Occidental Mindoro.