Magnitude 6.3 earthquake rocks parts of Luzon on Christmas morning

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake, with an epicenter located 15 kilometers southwest of Calatagan, Batangas, jolted several parts of Luzon on Christmas morning.

According to a bulletin by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the earthquake, which was recorded at 7:43 a.m., was of tectonic origin and had a depth of 109 kilometers.

Alongside "Merry Christmas," “Lumindol,” “#lindol,” “Magnitude 6.3,” “earthquake,” and “Phivolcs” quickly trended on Twitter following the earthquake with people tweeting out prayers, sending “stay safe” messages and others finding humor in the situation.

The earthquake, with aftershocks reported by Phivolcs, was felt in parts of Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, La Union, Zambales, including the following:

Intensity V

Calatagan, Balayan, Nasugbu, Batangas City, Calaca and San Luis Batangas; Tagaytay City, Amadeo, Indang, Kawit and Alfonso, Cavite; Lubang and Looc Occidental Mindoro; and Biñan Laguna.

Intensity IV

Abra de Ilog and Paluan, Occidental Mindoro; Taal, San Jose, San Pascual, Lemery, Malvar and Ibaan, Batangas; Maragundon and Carmona, Cavite; San Pedro, Laguna; City of Manila; Marikina City; Quezon City; Cainta, San Mateo and Antipolo City, Rizal; Pasig City; Las Piñas City; Obando, Malolos, and Meycauyan, Bulacan; Subic and San Felipe, Zambales; Alaminos, Pangasinan; Santo Tomas, La Union; City of Mabalacat, Pampanga.

Intensity III

Talisay and Santo Tomas, Batangas; Puerto Galera, Pinamalayan, Naujan, San Teodoro and Calapan, Oriental Mindoro; Caloocan City; Tanay, Rizal; San Jose Del Monte City and Plaridel, Bulacan; San Jose City and Gapan City, Nueva Ecija; Cabangan and Iba, Zambales; Samal, Bataan; Floridablanca and Santa Ana, Pampanga; Valenzuela City; Malabon City.

Banner and thumbnail image from earthquake.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph