Earthquake in Manila

MANILA, Philippines. March 25, 2010. — A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck west of Manila on Thursday, 25th, the seismology institute reported, causing buildings in the Philippine capital to shake and sending frightened workers out of their offices.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, and no tsunami alert was issued. Buildings in Manila shook for about 30 seconds.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially reported the tremor had a magnitude of 6.2, but lowered it to 6.0 after receiving more field data, said its director, Renato Solidum.

Editha Vargaz of the Land Bank of Philippine’s risk management group said she and dozens of other colleagues climbed down the stairs to the street from the bank’s headquarters on the 31st floor of the 34-story building.

“We were very calm,” she said, citing training from regular earthquake and fire evacuation drills.

While he and other staff hurried down the stairs, “most others were panicking and some even tried to shove others” to reach the street more quickly.

Solidum said the quake was centered off Lubang Island in Mindoro Occidental province, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of Manila, six miles (10 kilometers) under the seabed.

Updated: 2010-04-10 — 04:11:44