Some residents panic, hotel-resort in Mabini town collapses during Batangas quakes

Some people panicked and a few structures were damaged as four earthquakes struck Batangas province on Saturday afternoon.

In a video posted by Ryan Abacan, which was aired on 24 Oras, people were heard shouting and seen running from buildings after two strong quakes were felt in Batangas City.

The crowd was seen running for safety to a vacant parking lot of a bank along P. Burgos Street.

In another video posted by Harris Austria, churchgoers were heard shouting as concrete blocks fell from the already quake-damaged Taal Basilica.

Another report on 24 Oras showed a footage of a landslide in Mount Maculot in Cuenca town during the quake.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said four quakes struck Batangas, with the strongest measuring at magnitude-6.0.

The magnitude-6.0 quake was felt strongest at Intensity 7 in Mabini town. It was also felt in other parts of Batangas and nearby provinces and in Metro Manila. 

In a radio dzBB interview, Lito Castro of the Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said they have received reports of damages from the quakes.

Castro said a house in Barangay San Andres in Bauan town was damaged during one of the quakes and a hotel-resort collapsed in Barangay Ligaya in Mabini town. He said three vehicles were damaged from the building's collapse.

He also reported that patients at hospitals in Taal town and Batangas City were evacuated during the quake.

He added that a landslide was reported in Agoncillo town and Batangas City and some roads in these two areas were limited to vehicular traffic.

Edwin Seho of the Laguna Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said the quakes were also strongly felt in the province. 

He said a 30-minute blackout was experienced in the province following the quakes.

In another dzMM interview, Vincent Gahol of the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said they were checking reports of possible injuries after people attending a graduation rites panicked during the quake.

Gahol also said they are confirming reports that a part of a mountain in Puerto Galera town collapsed during the magnitude-6.0 quake. —ALG, GMA News