5.3-magnitude earthquake strikes Philippines; presidential palace evacuated

Agencies | Manila

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

A number of offices, including government entities, in the Philippines' capital Manila were evacuated on Wednesday as a magnitude 5.3 earthquake hit the city, according to local reports.

The earthquake struck around 1.05pm, Manila time, said the country's monitoring agency Phivolcs. The epicenter was detected at Tinaga Island in the province of Camarines Norte.

In the capital, residents reported feeling the tremors for some time, but no damage has been recorded so far, local media said.

Photos shared by a reporter of the daily Philippine Star show employees of the presidential palace Malacañang being evacuated. Similar safety procedures were reportedly conducted at the Senate.