QUAKE HITS BATANGAS, FELT IN MANILA

Epicenter was traced in Mabini, Batangas; magnitude 6 was felt on second episode at 3:09 p.m.

Two earthquakes rattled Batangas yesterday afternoon—the second registering at magnitude 6–in the same area struck last April 4 by a quake that caused residents to flee their homes.

The first magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck at 3:07 p.m. and was followed by a strong magnitude 6 quake at 3:09 p.m. The quakes’ epicenter was traced in Mabini, Batangas.

The jolt was stronger than the magnitude 5.5 experienced on April 4, with the epicenter near Tingloy, Batangas.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a 5.7 magnitude earthquake in Barangay Bagalangit, Mabini town; and another 5.9 magnitude quake in Barangay Talaga in Tanauan town, both in Batangas province.

The quakes were felt in Metro Manila and some parts of Luzon past 3 p.m., said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said earthquake swarm, or events where local area experiences sequences of many earthquakes striking in a relatively short period of time, is common in areas, which were previously hit by an earthquake.

The tremors were felt in Batangas towns of Calatagan, Nasugbu, Tingloy, Sto. Tomas and Lemery Batangas; and Batangas City and Tagaytay City.

Tremors were also felt in Metro Manila cities of Makati, Pasay, Quezon Muntinlupa, Pateros and Malabon.

Phivolcs said the earthquake was also recorded in Bacoor and Dasmarinas, Cavite; Lucena City; and Daet, Camarines Sur.

More aftershocks are expected, according to Solidum but no tsunami warning was issued.

Lights swing inside a restaurant at SM City Lipa in Batangas after the quake, according to a video uploaded by May Anne Balitaan on Facebook.

Malacañang urged the public to stay calm but remain vigilant and alert following the twin earth- quakes that hit some parts of Luzon.

“We ask our people to stay calm and yet remain vigilant and alert. Let us not forward information from unverified sources that may cause undue alarm,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

Abella said the disaster officials are now assessing the situation and will be giving updates to the public as more information about the Saturday earthquake becomes available.

Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas said his office was still compiling the reports regarding the possible damage brought by the tremor.

Mina Marasigan, spokesperson of National Disaster Risk Reduc- tion and Management Council, told radio dzMM that there have been no reports so far of serious damage or casualties.

After the earthquake, the Philippine National Railway issued an advisory to its train operators to take “extreme caution” of five kilometers per hour when passing Pandacan and Alabang bridges and “never allow two trains on said bridges.”

“15 kph precaution on all other bridges until further advise,” PNR Engineer Noli Tolentino said.

Department of Transportation Undersecretary Cesar Chavez said the Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit 3 were on normal operations and there was no reported damage in both facilities.