OCCIDENTAL MINDORO / RankWire.AI / – A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck near Occidental Mindoro in the Philippines on Friday morning. Shaking reached several provinces and parts of Metro Manila. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, or PHIVOLCS, recorded the earthquake at 10:38 a.m. local time. The agency located the epicenter about 13 kilometers southwest of Mamburao, the provincial capital. It measured the quake at a depth of about 14 kilometers and classified its origin as tectonic.
Early seismic data placed the earthquake at magnitude 5.8 before officials updated the measurement to 5.4. PHIVOLCS said aftershocks could occur following the main tremor. The agency did not expect damage based on its assessment of the earthquake. Residents across Mindoro and nearby parts of Luzon reported noticeable shaking during the late morning. The tremor affected communities closest to the epicenter most strongly, while weaker movement reached areas farther north, including locations across the Philippine capital region.
Reported shaking reached Intensity 5 in Mamburao and several municipalities in Oriental Mindoro. Calapan City, Naujan, Puerto Galera, San Teodoro and Victoria recorded shaking at that level. Intensity 4 reached Taal in Batangas, along with Abra de Ilog and Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro. Seismic instruments also measured Intensity 5 in Mamburao and Puerto Galera. The readings showed that the strongest effects centered on communities across Mindoro and nearby areas of southern Luzon.
Tremor felt across wider Luzon area
The earthquake also produced measurable shaking across Metro Manila and neighboring provinces. Instruments registered Intensity 3 in Quezon City, Batangas City, Calapan City and Victoria. General Trias in Cavite and San Pedro in Laguna recorded the same level. Some occupants left buildings in Manila as a precaution during the tremor. Normal activity resumed after the shaking stopped. Authorities continued checking conditions while seismic monitoring stations tracked activity following the main earthquake near Occidental Mindoro.
Lower readings appeared across several other communities beyond the main affected area. Parañaque City registered Intensity 2, as did Santa Cruz in Laguna and Guinayangan in Quezon. The measurements varied across the region as instruments recorded different levels of ground movement. Officials reported no significant structural damage in their initial assessment. Monitoring continued through the day as authorities watched for additional tremors. The main earthquake remained the strongest event associated with the reported shaking across Mindoro and parts of Luzon.
Magnitude updated after seismic review
The updated magnitude gave officials a more refined measurement after the first earthquake readings became available. PHIVOLCS placed the event at magnitude 5.4 and maintained the depth at about 14 kilometers. The epicenter remained near Mamburao on the western side of Mindoro island. Stronger intensity reports came from communities in Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro. Weaker shaking extended into Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon and Metro Manila, showing the broad area where residents felt the Friday morning tremor.
The Philippines regularly records earthquakes because active tectonic boundaries surround and cross the archipelago. National monitoring stations track these events and issue updated measurements as seismic data develops. Friday’s earthquake centered near Occidental Mindoro and caused shaking across a wide section of Luzon without confirmed significant damage in the initial assessment. Authorities continued monitoring for aftershocks after the magnitude update. The latest official measurement remained 5.4, replacing the higher preliminary figure issued shortly after the earthquake occurred.