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Philippine Earthquake Felt in Manila

Philippine Earthquake Felt in Manila

(Bloomberg) -- The Philippines’ largest and most populous island was struck by an earthquake with a magnitude exceeding 5 late Friday afternoon, prompting hundreds to evacuate buildings in Manila.

The tremor originated in the town of Burdeos in Quezon province, about 100 kilometers from the capital, at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Damage and aftershocks are expected, it said.

Trains in Manila stopped running as authorities conduct checks on the facilities, the Transportation Department said.

Located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In 2013, a 7.2 magnitude quake hit Bohol province and areas in central Philippines, killing more than 200 people and affecting 600,000 families.

  • The central bank cut short a briefing as people were asked to leave the building. Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that the senate building was also evacuated.
  • No tsunami alert was raised, Renato Solidum, director of the institute, told ABS-CBN News Channel.

To contact the reporters on this story: Philip J. Heijmans in Singapore at pheijmans1@bloomberg.net;Cecilia Yap in Manila at cyap19@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Stephanie Phang at sphang@bloomberg.net, Niluksi Koswanage

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