AFP reported that the 6.4-magnitude shallow earthquake occurred at a location about 110km off the coast of Morong in Bataan province on Luzon Island, Philippines at 5:05 a.m. local time. People in the capital Manila were awakened as buildings began to shake.
Rural earthquakes tend to cause more damage than deep shocks, however, the Philippine Institute for Earthquakes and Volcanoes said there were no reports of damage.
Lieutenant Aristotle Calayag, acting police chief of Lubang town in Occidental Mindoro, an island off Luzon, said the strong quakes and severe shaking, but people were used to such earthquakes so they were not in a hurry to run out or panic.
According to Chief of Police Morong, Captain Michelle Gaziola, the earthquake was "slight strong but very short. We're okay. Most people are still sleeping."
Strong earthquake of 6.7 Richter affects Sumatra, Indonesia
Also early on March 14, a 6.7 Richter earthquake occurred off the west coast of Sumatra Island, Indonesia, forcing people to flee their homes.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake occurred at 4:26 a.m. on March 14 local time, at a depth of 21km, with the center of the coastal city of Pariaman 167km west.
The center of the earthquake is 197km from Padang - the capital and largest city in the Western Sumatra province.
According to the initial report of the National Disaster Lensb (BNPB): "The earthquake occurred for one minute with medium intensity, people panicked and ran away from their homes."
According to the Indonesian Geophysical Agency, the earthquake was followed by a series of strong aftershocks.
Initially, the Pacific God wave warning center said that the earthquake was likely to cause sunny impacts in the Indian Ocean, but promptly lifted the warning.
"Based on the latest report, there were no damage and victims, but we continue to monitor. Strong earthquakes can be felt on the island of South Nias," said Agus Wibisono, head of Nias' Search and Rescue office, adding that after the Tsunami threat was lifted, people have calmed down.
Both the Philippines and Indonesia have experienced frequent earthquakes due to their location on the "Ground of Fire" of the Pacific Ocean - a cycle of intense seismic activity stretching from Japan through Southeast Asia and through the Pacific basin.
