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Magnitude 6.6 quake hits Calatagan, Batangas


Magnitude 6.6 quake hits Calatagan, Batangas

A magnitude 6.6 quake hit Calatagan in Batangas early Saturday morning and was also felt in many parts of the National Capital Region, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported.

The quake, which occurred at 4:48 a.m., was tectonic in origin with a depth of 123 kilometers.

The agency earlier reported that the earthquake measured 6.7 in magnitude.

Intensity V was felt in the following areas:

  • Calapan City and Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro
  • Sablayan and Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro
  • Tagaytay City, Carmona and Dasmariñas City, Cavite

 

Intensity IV was recorded in the following cities:

  • Quezon City
  • Marikina City
  • Manila City
  • Makati City
  • Taguig City
  • Valenzuela City
  • Pasay City
  • Tagaytay City, Cavite
  • Batangas City and Talisay City, Batangas
  • San Mateo, Rizal

 

Intensity III was felt in Pasig City, and San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan.

A few minutes after the initial report, PHIVOLCS posted a short-period surface wave magnitude (Mblg) 5.5 quake occurring in the same town in Batangas which is also tectonic in origin with a depth of 108 kilometers.

This second earthquake was felt in the following areas:

  • Intensity V - Calatagan, Batangas
  • Intensity IV - Balayan, Calaca and Mabini, Batangas
  • Intensity III - Quezon City; Makati City; Manila City; Tagaytay City and Naic, Cavite; Batangas City, San Pascual and Bauan, Batangas; Hermosa, Bataan
  • Intensity II - Lipa City, Batangas

 

PHIVOLCS OIC and DOST Undersecretary Renato Solidum said in an interview on Dobol B TV that aftershocks may occur but these would not cause damage to property.

"Puwede pa tayong magkaroon ng mga aftershock pero dahil ito ay malalim, wala namang inaasahang pinsala," he said.

"Kapag malalim ang lindol, hindi ito magdudulot ng pinsala o tsunami," he added.

Calatagan Mayor Peter Oliver Palacio told Dobol B TV they have not received any report yet of damage, but the local government unit is monitoring.

Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste meanwhile also told Dobol B TV 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.

Manila Trench

Interviewed at the Laging Handa public briefing at midday on Saturday, Solidum said the earthquake was caused by movement in the Manila Trench, and has nothing to do with the volcanic activity in Taal Volcano.

"This has nothing to do with the volcanic activity in Taal Volcano. They usually happen and sometimes these quakes under Calatagan are felt in Metro Manila," Solidum said.

He added that the quake is not yet the worst-case scenario of the "Big One."

"Hindi pa po ito. Kaiba pa po ito sa pinaghahandaan din nating isang earthquake scenario na manggagaling sa pagkilos ng West Valley Fault," Solidum said.

(This is not yet the Big One. It differs from an earthquake scenario that will come from the movement of the West Valley Fault.)

Transportation

Meanwhile, LRT1 operations were temporarily suspended to allow full inspection of tracks and facilities.

"This is to ensure safety before resuming operations," LRT management said in a social media post.

As of 6:25 a.m., LRT1 resumed operations in all 19 stations after receiving a safety clearance to operate.

The MRT3 likewise announced that operations were temporarily suspended as personnel conduct a safety check and assess the train stations and facilities.

Its operations have resumed at 7:04 a.m.

Operations of the LRT2 and the Philippine National Railways were also temporarily suspended following the quake to allow for the conduct of safety checks.

LRT2 operations resumed at 8:01 a.m.with reports from Jamil Santos and Amita Legaspi/BAP/KG, GMA News

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