Magnitude-6.3 quake jolts Batangas on Christmas Day

A 6.3-magnitude  earthquake struck the province of Batangas at 7:43 a.m. on Friday, Christmas Day.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake's center was traced to Calatagan, Batangas.

Metro Manila and nearby provinces also felt the temblor.

PHIVOLCS said the quake was tectonic in origin and had a depth of focus of 74 kilometers. It warned of possible aftershocks.

PHIVOLCS said the quake was felt in these areas:

• Intensity V - Calatagan, Balayan, Nasugbu, Batangas City, Balayan, Calaca and San Luis, Batangas; Tagaytay City, Amadeo, Indang, Kawit, and Alfonso, Cavite; Lubang and Looc, Occidental Mindoro; Biñan, Laguna
• Intensity IV - Abra de Ilog and Paluan, Occidental Mindoro; Taal, San Jose, San Pascual, Lemery, Malvar and Ibaan, Batangas; Maragundon and Carmona, Cavite; San Pedro, Laguna; City of Manila; Marikina City; Quezon City; Cainta, San Mateo and Antipolo City, Rizal; Pasig City; Las Piñas City; Obando, Malolos, and Meycauyan, Bulacan; Subic and San Felipe, Zambales; Alaminos, Pangasinan; Santo Tomas, La Union; City of Mabalacat, Pampanga
• Intensity III - Talisay and Santo Tomas, Batangas; Puerto Galera, Pinamalayan, Naujan, San Teodoro and Calapan, Oriental Mindoro; Caloocan City; Tanay, Rizal; San Jose Del Monte City, and Plaridel, Bulacan; Gapan City, Nueva Ecija; Cabangan and Iba, Zambales; Samal, Bataan; Floridablanca and Santa Ana, Pampanga; Valenzuela City; Malabon City
• Intensity II - San Isidro, Nueva Ecija; Alaminos City, Pangasinan; Lucban and Guinayangan, Quezon; Doña Remedios, Trinidad
• Intensity I - Intensity I- Villasis, Pangasinan; Lucena City, Quezon

Instrumental Intensities were also recorded:

• Intensity IV - Bacoor City; Tagaytay City; Carmona, Cavite; Plaridel, Calumpit, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, and Malolos, Bulacan; Guagua, Pampanga; Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Las Pinas City; Navotas City; Paranaque City; Malabon City
• Intensity III - Tagaytay City; Talisay, Batangas; San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; Dagupan City; Quezon City; Pasig City; Muntinlupa City; Marikina City; Cabanatuan City; Calapan, Oriental Mindoro
• Intensity II - Roxas, Oriental Mindoro; Lucban, Quezon; Baler, Aurora; Palayan City; San Isidro, Nueva Ecija
• Intensity I - San Jose, Nueva Ecija; Gumaca, Lopez and Lucena City, Quezon

PHIVOLCS said two aftershocks were already recorded. The first one, a magnitude 3.2, was felt at 8:09 a.m. while the other one, a magnitude 2.0, was recorded at 8:29 a.m.

In Metro Manila, operations of the MR3 and LRT2 were briefly disrupted.

No tsunami threat

But PHIVOLCS Director and DOST Undersecretary for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Dr. Renato Solidum Jr. told Super Radyo dzBB that there is no threat of a tsunami from the quake because of its depth.  

LIVE sa DZBB: Dr. Renato Solidum, Junior, DOST Undersecretary for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change at @phivolcs_dost officer-in-charge ukol sa lindol sa Batangas.

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— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) December 25, 2020

"Dahil po sa lalim niya, wala po dapat ipangamba sa tsunami, kung pagyanig po siguro mas malapad lapad ang nakaramdam niyan kasi malalim-lalim at malakas 'yung lindol," Solidum told Dobol B sa News TV.

"Kapag ganito po kalalim ito ay dahil sa pagsupsop ng West Philippine Sea sa Manila Trench... Ang Manila Trench ay isa sa mga earthquake generator na madalas magdulot ng malalim na lindol diyan sa Batangas," he added.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the local government of Calatagan has not reported any damage from the quake.

NDRRMC spokesman Mark Timbal said the Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office already advised coordination among local government units to check the effects of the quake.

On the other hand, the local government of Mindoro is conducting assessment, Timbal said.

A significant damage from the quake is not expected, Solidum said. — with a report from Nicole-Anne Lagrimas/LBG/RSJ, GMA News