A magnitude-5.5 earthquake rattled a wide swath of Luzon Wednesday.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded the moderately strong earthquake at 6:25 p.m.
Its epicenter was estimated six kilometers southeast of Aguilar, Pangasinan.
It was felt as far as Baguio City and parts of Metro Manila and Ilocos Norte.
Phivolcs said the earthquake was felt at Intensity 5 in Villasis, Pangasinan. An earthquake with this intensity is described as “strong” as it is “generally felt by most people indoors or outdoors.”
Intensity 4 was recorded in Baguio City. An Intensity 4 tremor is felt “generally by people indoors and some people outdoors.”
Subic in Zambales, Olongapo City, Dagupan City, Pasay City, Manila, Mandaluyong City, and Quezon City felt the earthquake at Intensity 3, as a “weak tremor.”
Malolos City in Bulacan, Guagua in Pampanga, and Gapan City in Nueva Ecija felt the earthquake at Intensity 2 as a “slight” shaking.
It was “scarcely perceptible” at Intensity 1 in Laoag City, Pasuquin in Ilocos Norte, Sinait in Ilocos Sur, and San Ildefonso in Bulacan.
Phivolcs said the earthquake was tectonic in origin, which was caused by ground shaking primarily due to the sudden movement in the Earth’s plates.
It said there was no reported damage to property or loss of lives due to the earthquake but aftershocks are expected to occur. (Ellalyn V. Ruiz)
