MANILA, Philippines – The operations of the Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT-3) has resumed after it was momentarily halted due to the magnitude 6.3-earthquake that struck off Calatagan, Batangas at around 7:34 a.m. Friday and felt in Metro Manila.
In an advisory, the MRT-3 management said the railway operations resumed at 8:32 a.m. but at a slower speed of 50 kilometers per hour (kph) from 60kph at the mainline after checking of tracks.
“Checking of buildings and facilities is ongoing,” the MRT-3 said.
The railway management was forced to suspend train operations for minutes earlier and advised train drivers to stop at the nearest station for precautionary measures.
Meanwhile, the management of the Light Rail Transit line 2 (LRT-2) said operations resumed around 11 a.m. after it was temporarily suspended due to the quake.
The temblor was also felt in nearby provinces, including Bulacan, Bataan, and Laguna.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said the quake was tectonic in origin and had a depth of focus of 109 kilometers.
The following intensities were recorded several areas:
- Intensity IV – Lemery, and Malvar, Batangas; San Pedro, Laguna; City of Manila; Marikina City; Quezon City; Cainta and Antipolo City, Rizal; Pasig City
- Intensity III – Caloocan City; Tanay, Rizal; San Jose Del Monte City, and Plaridel, Bulacan; Gapan City, Nueva Ecija; Cabangan and Iba, Zambales; Samal,
- Bataan; Valenzuela City; Malabon City
- Intensity II – San Isidro, Nueva Ecija; Alaminos City, Pangasinan
- Instrumental Intensities were also recorded:
- Intensity IV – Bacoor City; Tagaytay City; Carmona, Cavite; Plaridel, Calumpit, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, and Malolos, Bulacan; Guagua, Pampanga; Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Las Pinas City
- Intensity III – Talisay, Batangas; San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; Dagupan City; Quezon City; Pasig City; Muntinlupa City; Marikina City; Cabanatuan City
- Intensity II – Roxas, Oriental Mindoro; Lucban, Quezon; Baler, Aurora; Palayan City
- Intensity I – San Jose, Nueva Ecija; Gumaca, Lopez and Lucena City, Quezon
Phivolcs said there is no reported significant damage from the quake but it is expecting aftershocks.