3 shallow quakes hit Luzon

source: abs-cbn

MANILA, Philippines – Three shallow earthquakes were reported Saturday morning in the country.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) the first quake was measured at magnitude 2.3.

It occurred at 12:15 a.m. 89 kilometers northeast of Polilio Island.

The second tremor was located 33 kms southwest of Lubang in Occidental Mindoro and was measured at magnitude 5.4.

PHIVOLCS said the last quake happened at 11:49 a.m. 39 kms northeast of Casiguran in Aurora province. It was measured at magnitude 3.3.

All three quakes were tectonic in origin, PHIVOLCS said.

Agence France-Presse reported that the Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire – a belt around the Pacific Ocean dotted by active volcanoes and tectonic trenches.

It added that one fault line runs directly under Manila, and government seismologists have warned the city is unprepared for a major quake.

source: abs-cbn