MANILA — A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Tarlac province on Thursday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said. 

The tectonic tremor hit 3 kilometers northeast of Tarlac City before 6 a.m. It had a depth of 199 kilometers, Phivolcs said. 

“Medyo malakas, 5.7, pero malalim po kasi ito… Ang delikado ay yung mababaw na malakas,” Phivolcs Director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol told TeleRadyo Serbisyo. 

While the tremor could spawn aftershocks, it was not expected to cause damage, the seismology bureau said. 

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Phivolcs said it recorded the following instrumental intensities. 

Intensity 3 - Bani, Pangasinan;

Intensity 2 - Santa Ignacia and Ramos, Tarlac; Dagupan; Masinloc and Botolan, Zambaels; Olongapo; Bontoc, Mountain Province; City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Intensity 1 - Tarlac and Bamban, Tarlac; Guagua, Pampanga; Abucay and Dinalupihan, Bataan; Urdaneta, Pangasinan; Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija; Santol, La Union; Bustos, Bulaca; Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte; Navotas

“Instrumento lang namin ang nakaramdam,” Bacolcol said of these instrumental intensities. 

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