Magnitude 5.7 earthquake strikes northern Philippines

An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale jolted northern Philippine province of Batangas Wednesday evening, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.
The earthquake, which was felt at around 7:52 p.m., originated at 22 kilometers southwest of Calatagan, Batangas, said Phivolcs science research assistant Robert Tiglao.
He said the tremor, which was felt in some parts of Metro Manila and southern Luzon, occurred at a depth of 36 km, which is considered a shallow-focus earthquake.

Phivolcs Director Dr. Renato Solidum said the earthquake could have been caused by the movement of Lubang Fault or Manila Trench.
Phivolcs said a magnitude 5 earthquake is generally felt by most people indoors and outdoors and some shaking and rocking are felt throughout a building.
It said no casualties and losses have been reported so far, but aftershocks are likely to occur.
The Philippines sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity. There are about 20 to 25 earthquakes occurring in the country everyday, most of them not felt by the general populace.