No damage so far in Calatagan after magnitude 6.6 earthquake; quake felt in NCR

No damage has been reported so far in Calatagan, Batangas early Saturday following a magnitude 6.6 earthquake that struck past 4 a.m., the town mayor said.

"Okay naman po, wala namang na-record na untoward incident," Calatagan Mayor Peter Oliver Palacio said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(We're okay. No untoward incident has so far been reported.)

Palacio said the barangay disaster response teams were activated right after the earthquake struck, to monitor any damage.

The magnitude 6.6 quake hit Calatagan in Batangas at 4:48 a.m., the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported.

PHIVOLCS initially reported the quake as having magnitude 6.7 but later revised this and downgraded it to magnitude 6.6.

The quake was felt as far as Metro Manila and Bulacan.

This was followed by a magnitude 5.5 earthquake, initially reported at magnitude 5.1, that hit Calatagan again at 4:57 a.m. 

Palacio said Saturday's magnitude 6.6 earthquake was felt much stronger than the magnitude 6.3 temblor that struck Calatagan on Christmas Day last year.

"Mas malakas kaysa noong December last year," he said.

Palacio said the local government unit is continuing to monitor their area for any report of damage.

Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste said many residents probably got nervous as they felt the earthquake.

"Mahaba at malakas ang nangyaring lindol... Maraming nag-alala siguro dahil ito ay nangyari halos paggising pa lamang ng mga tao," he said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(The earthquake was long in duration and was strong. Many got nervous probably since it occurred as they woke up.)

Leviste said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and other government agencies are on the alert and are monitoring the possible effects of the earthquake.

"Binabantayan din kung magre-react ang Bulkang Taal sa nangyaring lindol," he added.

(We are also monitoring if Taal Volcano will react following the earthquake.)

Taal Volcano in Batangas is currently under Alert Level 2, downgraded from Alert Level 3, following a "cessation of eruptive activity."

Leviste said the province already implemented preemptive evacuation of residents staying in coastal areas in Western Batangas due to the bad weather.

Meanwhile, at the Batangas Pier in Batangas City, a small crack was seen at the administration building of the Philippine Ports Authority office, port manager Joselito Sinocruz said, according to a report by Manny Vargas on Dobol B TV.

However, this had no effect on the operations of the port after engineers did an inspection.

Sinocruz said operations of the Batangas Pier as well as six other seaports in the province were not affected by the earthquake.

Operasyon ng 7 pantalan sa Batangas, tuloy pa rin kasunod ng malakas na lindol sa Calatagan; administrative building ng Philippine Ports Authority, nakitaan ng kaunting sira. | via @VargasMannysen pic.twitter.com/aZiOM0pXRX

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 23, 2021

No casualty

Meanwhile, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said no casualty has been reported in Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan as of 9 a.m., according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.  

“The DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways] has already deployed teams that would assess the structural integrity or damages, if any, of key infrastructure in Metro Manila, CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA,” Roque said in a statement.

“We ask residents of affected areas to remain alert and vigilant, take precautionary measures, and cooperate with their respective local authorities in case of an evacuation,” he added.

Condo residents

Meanwhile, in Metro Manila where the magnitude 6.6 quake was felt at Intensity IV, residents of condominiums hurriedly went down to the ground floor as their buildings shook.

LOOK: Lumabas ang mga residente ng Victoria 1 Station sa Quezon City matapos maramdaman ang malakas na lindol kaninang madaling araw. | via @luisitosantos03 pic.twitter.com/MadSLg33bD

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 23, 2021

Ilang residente ng ilang condominium sa bahagi ng Vito Cruz, Maynila, hindi pa rin bumabalik sa kanilang mga unit matapos nilang maramdaman ang magnitude 6.6 na lindol sa Calatagan, Batangas. | via Mao dela Cruz pic.twitter.com/TvOoJhf5gi

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 23, 2021

Transportation

Train operations were temporarily suspended following the earthquake.

Philippine National Railways general manager Jun Magno told Dobol B TV the operations of PNR were on hold temporarily as their team checks for any damage.

Operations of the LRT1, LRT2 and MRT3 were also suspended temporarily.

LRT1, LRT2 and MRT3 have already resumed operations. —With a report from Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News