Batangas quakes displace more than 5,000 people —NDRRMC

More than 5,000 individuals have remained in evacuation centers after a series of earthquakes shook Batangas province on Saturday afternoon.

In its later situation report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said that more than 2,000 people are staying in front of the Mabini municipal hall and 3,053 others are in 11 evacuation areas in Batangas City.

In San Luis town, 89 families (345 people) from four barangays (Balite, Poblacion, Banoyo, and Dulangan) are also in evacuation centers.

Most of the town's evacuees come from Banoyo where 39 families (140 persons) are in a campsite.

At least 20 families from Barangay Bilibinwang in Agoncillo town were evacuated to Barangays Bangin and Pool, and an undetermined number of residents from Barangay Banyaga were brought to to Barangay Poblacion.

The NDRRMC said that 13 families (or 42 individuals) from San Pascual town were were also evacuated after the quakes.

Meanwhile, the man injured in the arm by pieces of broken glass during the quake in Mabini is now being at the Bauan General Hospital.

Aftershocks

A total of 1,129 aftershocks have been recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology after Saturday's magnitude-6.0 quake. Of the number, 20 were reportedly felt, the NDRRMC said.

On the other hand, Phivolcs' science and research specialist Erlinton Olevere told dzBB that a total of 129 aftershocks were recorded by their instruments as of Sunday morning. 

Olevere explained that the 129 aftershocks were recorded and pinpointed by their instruments, while the at least 1,000 others were either "unlocated" or have been recorded by only one instrument.

Also, he said that the tremors in Batangas province came from a new unnamed fault in the Mabini peninsula.

On Saturday afternoon, two strong quakes struck Mabini town. The first significant quake was measured at 5.6 magnitude, followed by a magnitude-6.0 temblor.

Both quakes were felt at Intensity 7 in the town, where local authorities have reported severe damage to buildings, including schools and hospitals.

The NDRRMC said the public can expect aftershocks in the coming days.

Damage

As of 10 p.m. of April 8, the NDRRMC reported a collapsed seawall in Barangay San Teodoro, partial collapse in a resort, various structural damage in the Anilao Market, and major damage at the Mabini General Hospital in Mabini town.

In Taal town, authorities found cracks on the wall of the Taal Polymedic Hospital laboratory. One house was also reportedly damaged.

Noticeable cracks were also observed on the walls of the Jesus Nazarene Hospital in Batangas City, while partial damage were reported at the Basilica of the Immaculate Concepcion.

Noticeable cracks were also found at the Lipa City Hospital and small cracks were seen in the city's Robinsons Mall, forcing mall operations to close.

Meanwhile, power has been restored in Calamba City in Laguna, and the towns of Taal, Batangas City, Mataasnakahoy, and San Juan in Batangas.

Intermittent power supply is still being experienced in Tingloy, Mabini, and San Luis towns.

Roads and bridges

The NDRRMC said three roads in the province are still not passable passable to vehicles. These include:

Batangas City

• Barangay Dela Paz to Barangay Illijan
• Barangay Pagkilatan

Bauan town

• San Roque Road

Roads are halfway passable in Sitio Alembre and Barangay Bilibinwang in Agoncillo town based on the inspection by the disaster risk reduction and management office.

The road from Barangay Mabacong to Barangay Illijan in Batangas City has been passable since 10:08 p.m. on Saturday.

Roads in Barangays Solo, Ligaya, Bagalangi, and San Teodoro in Mabini town are already passable after the reported landslides in the area.

Meanwhile, only one lane is passable on San Pedro Bridge in Bauan.

The NDRRMC was set to conduct an aerial survey of Mabini and other areas of Batangas province on Sunday, to be led by Civil Defense Administrator Usec. Ricardo Jalad. —LBG, GMA News