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PHILIPPINES-QUAKE
Philippine capital jolted by quake
MANILA, Sept 13, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – An earthquake that struck east of the
Philippine capital Manila on Friday set buildings swaying and sent scores
into the streets, but there were no immediate reports of damage, authorities
said.
The 5.2-magnitude jolt hit offshore near sparsely populated Polillo
Island, about 130 kilometres (80 miles) from Manila, according to the US
Geological Survey.
Buildings in the capital were briefly evacuated and trains halted as crews
looked for any damage.
“We have not received any calls for help or reports of emergency incidents
related to the quake,” Tricia Cervantes, of the rescue office in Manila’s
Makati district, told AFP.
The shaking was felt strongly at the epicentre, but there were no
immediate reports of destruction.
“Everyone rushed out of the buildings. We were terrified,” Rezil Golbin, a
civilian employee at the police office on Polillo Island told AFP.
“Even the prisoners at the jail cell here were shouting, ‘Get us out of
here!'” she added.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1623 hrs