Tsunami fears as Philippines struck by THREE EARTHQUAKES in just 20 minutes

Tsunami fears as Philippines struck by THREE EARTHQUAKES in just 20 minutes

AN EARTHQUAKE measuring 5.9 magnitude has struck the Philippines, the US Geological Survey has said - the third and strongest quake to hit the archipelago in the space of 20 minutes.

By Ross Logan

PUBLISHED: 09:44, Sat, Apr 8, 2017 | UPDATED: 13:44, Sat, Apr 8, 2017

MYSTERIOUS explosions spotted off the coast of Monte Cristo

The quake struck near Batangas in Luzon, the largest and most populous island in the Philippines.

Hundreds of residents in the coastal province fled to higher ground in fear of a tsunami caused by the quakes.

Office workers in the capital of Manila, about 68 miles away, were seen rushing out of buildings after feeling the tremors.

Movement was also felt in Batangas, Cavite and Quezon Province.

Landslides have been reported falliing from Mount Maculot, close to the where the quakes hit in Batangas.

So far, there have been no reports of injuries or damage.

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Office workers stand under an office building in Makati, Manila, after the quakes

The USGS said the quake was at a depth of 42.7 km (27 miles), Reuters reported.

The region has been experiencing tremors since earlier this week.

According to Update Philippines, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) recorded the earthquake from Mabini, Batangas around 3:07 pm on Saturday at Magnitude 5.6.

PHIVOLCS had earlier recorded a Magnitude 4.1 earthquake, felt mainly in Mindoro and Batangas, originating from Mabini, Batangas – an aftershock of a 5.5 magnitude earthquake on April 4.

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The tremors were felt almost 70 miles away in Manila

"Residents in the coastal villages in two towns have evacuated to safer ground after the earthquakes," Lito Castro, head of the provincial disaster council, told local radio. "The people were afraid the earthquakes would generate a tsunami."

Renato Solidum, head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, said the event was an "earthquake swarm" in a local faultline but had not been powerful enough to cause a tsunami.

"These swarms are natural occurences and we do not expect a big quake in this area," he said.

Batangas officials said there were no reports of casualties, but power was cut off in some areas and cracks had been reported in homes and some commercial buildings.