(Photo from Phivolcs)
MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 4.9 earthquake rocked Batangas on Saturday afternoon, according to the state seismology bureau.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that the epicenter of the tectonic earthquake was located west of Tingloy, Batangas. It had a depth of focus of two kilometers.
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Earlier, the agency said it had a magnitude of 4.6, but later updated it to a stronger magnitude of 4.9.
Major Richard De Guzman, Tingloy police chief, said the authorities found no damage from the tremor as of 6:30 p.m.
“The residents here are always ready. They have been used to earthquakes,” De Guzman said in a phone interview.
The Phivolcs said that the following intensities were felt in the places below:
Intensity IV
- Batangas – Balayan, Bauan, City of Calaca, Calatagan, Lemery, Mabini, San Luis, San Pascual, Taal, and Tingloy
Intensity III
- Makati City
- Batangas – Agoncillo, Alitagtag, Batangas City, Cuenca, Laurel, Lian, San Jose, and Tuy
- Cavite – Alfonso, Mendez-Nuñez, and City of Tagaytay
- Oriental Mindoro – Puerto Galera
Intensity II
- Quezon City
- Batangas – City of Lipa, Malvar, Nasugbu, City of Sto. Tomas, Talisay, and City of Tanauan
- Cavite – Silang
- Oriental Mindoro – City of Calapan
Intensity I
- City of Manila
- Occidental Mindoro – Abra De Ilog
Intensity refers to the strength perceived and felt by people. Intensities are ranked in Roman numerals, with those located near the epicenter having higher intensities. In the Philippines, the intensity of an earthquake is determined using Phivolcs’ Earthquake Intensity Scale.
In addition, the Phivolcs also reported the following instrumental intensities:
Intensity V
- Batangas – Lemery and San Luis
Intensity IV
- Batangas – Batangas City, Cuenca, Laurel, Mataasnakahoy, and Santa Teresita
- Cavite – City of Tagaytay
Intensity III
- City of Manila
- Muntinlupa City
- Batangas – City of Lipa
- Laguna – Los Baños
- Quezon -Dolores
- Oriental Mindoro – City of Calapan and Puerto Galera
Intensity II
- Malabon City
- Marikina City
- Batangas – Rosario
- Cavite – Carmona and Magallanes,
- Laguna – City of San Pablo
Intensity I
- Las Piñas City
- Navotas City
- Pasig City
- Bulacan – Pandi
- Batangas – Malvar and Talisay
- Cavite – Naic
- Quezon – Lucban, Mauban, and Polillo
- Marinduque – Boac
- Occidental Mindoro – Abra De Ilog
No damages or aftershocks were expected from the earthquake, the Phivolcs added.
At around 4:20 p.m., also Saturday, Tingloy was also jolted by a 2.4 magnitude tremor of tectonic origin.
On Friday before midnight, a mild earthquake also shook Nasugbu town, also in Batangas.
The 3.3 magnitude tectonic quake was recorded at 11:37 p.m. with its epicenter located at 31 kilometers northwest of Nasugbu, Phivolcs said in another bulletin. The tremor had a depth of 117 kilometers.
No damage was recorded and no aftershocks were expected.
According to Phivolcs, Batangas is one of the most seismically active areas in the Philippines, generated mainly by the Lubang Fault, located between Mindoro Island and Batangas.
The Philippines sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.