Metro Manila residents evacuated their homes and swaying office buildings after a strong earthquake hit the Philippine capital little more than an hour ago.
The magnitude was reported at 5.7 in the nearby Castillejos town in Zambales province, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), while the U.S. Geological Survey recorded a magnitude of 6.3 in Gutad, Floridablanca, Pampanga. It happened at about 5:11pm.
While the center of the quake was in Central Luzon, it was felt in most parts of Metro Manila, where office workers in business districts Makati and Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig evacuated swaying high-rise buildings.
Many took to Twitter to share their experience, moving the incident to the top trending topic on the social media platform within minutes.
ABS-CBN News reporter Arriane Merez captured BGC employees vacating their buildings, some wearing hardhats.
Employees at BGC evacuate following an earthquake | via @arianne_merez pic.twitter.com/GLG6UY1AdJ
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) April 22, 2019
Netizen @beautygeekjaky posted a video showing Makati Ave. filled with people who had evacuated their offices.
https://twitter.com/beautygeekjaky/status/1120265523214688257
Actress Ruffa Gutierrez shared a video of a chandelier at the Shangri-La at the Fort hotel swaying even after the quake.
“This was just the after effect of the chandelier swaying at SHANGRILA- FORT. It was stronger earlier when we were underneath it!! Wow we were so shocked!!! Hope everyone’s safe,” she said in English and Filipino.
https://twitter.com/iloveruffag/status/1120258051611643905
Netizen @Kian_Tomlinson shared a video of a building under construction near Manila’s Chinatown Binondo. The crane on top of the building can be seen swaying side to side.
“It’s like it’s dancing,” a man says in the video. “I thought I was just dizzy when I entered.”
https://twitter.com/Kian_Tomlinson/status/1120257834262749184
Facebook user Michael Rivo shared a video of Anchor Skysuite in Binondo, where water from its pool can be seen crashing down the building like a waterfall.
@kdramakings shared another video of an unidentified building swaying.
“This is how strong the earthquake is. The buildings are shaking omg,” the netizen said.
THIS IS HOW STRONG THE EARTHQUAKE IS. THE BUILDINGS ARE SHAKING OMG
#earthquake #earthquakeph https://t.co/DK6ZVS4YNz
— ed (@kdramakings) April 22, 2019
While others were panicking, @aubeon reminded that swaying buildings could be a good sign.
“Guys. Buildings are meant to shake during an earthquake. There are rebars or reinforcing bars (that are flexible) inside the concrete walls. Cracks should also happen along the joints where two walls or two faces in a space connect. They absorb the most stress, hence the reaction,” he said.
https://twitter.com/aubeon/status/1120264121268572160
Where were you when the earthquake happened? Did you feel it? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @CoconutsManila.
