Earthquake jolts Philippine capital

An earthquake jolted the Philippine capital Wednesday evening but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The Hong Kong Observatory recorded a magnitude 5.7 quake in Manila at 19:07 (1107 GMT), said Woo Wang-chun, a science officer at the observatory. No exact location of the epicenter was immediately given.

Photo: Earthquake jolts Philippine capital

Renato Solidum, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, said the location and the magnitude could not immediately be determined because heavy rains at the time hampered satellite transmissions. "So far we have no report of any significant incidents in other places," he said in a radio interview.

He said the tremor was "a bit strong" on Lubang Island , 130 kilometers (81 miles) southwest of Manila , and also felt in several suburbs. Earthquakes felt in those areas in the past were center along the Manila Trench west of the capital, he said. The Philippines is in the Pacific ring of fire were volcanic activities and earthquakes are frequent, reports the AP.

N.U.