Over 60 aftershocks recorded in Batangas

MANILA, Philippines -  More than 60 aftershocks of the magnitude 5.5 earthquake that hit Batangas were recorded as of yesterday afternoon, causing fear among residents as strong aftershocks could collapse structures damaged by the main quake.

An aftershock of magnitude 3.7 hit Mabini, Batangas at 2:31 p.m. yesterday. It was reportedly felt at Intensity 4 in Batangas City.

“Aftershocks, small earthquakes are expected… but an earthquake of higher magnitude is not discounted,”
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Renato Solidum told The STAR.

The main quake struck Tingloy, Batangas on Tuesday night. It was felt strongest in Batangas City at Intensity 6 (very strong) and in Malvar and Calatagan at Intensity 5 (strong). It was also felt in Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Occidental Mindoro, Metro Manila and Bulacan.

Residents of Tingloy abandoned their houses and sought shelter in the hills nearby for fear of a tsunami.

The quake also forced the evacuation of patients confined at Bauan’s Bejasa Hospital. They spent the night in makeshift tents.

Thousands of residents along coastal villages in the towns of Taal, Mabini, Lemery and San Luis who also evacuated to higher ground started returning to their homes yesterday.

Solidum urged affected residents to have their houses checked first due to possibility of stronger aftershocks, which could collapse damaged structures.

“Damaged houses and buildings must be inspected by engineers or building officials to ensure safety of residents,” he said.

Local officials said the quake damaged key structures, including the Batangas Provincial Capitol building. The initial cost of damage to that building alone is P18 million.

“Taal Basilica and Tingloy Parish Church also sustained minor damage,” said Olivia Luces, Office of Civil Defense regional director for Calabarzon.

Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas has placed the province under a state of calamity. Classes were suspended in the province yesterday while assessment of damage structures is ongoing.

The Laguna provincial government also suspended all classes yesterday to facilitate the conduct of a province-wide structural assessment for all school buildings and government and private facilities.

The Calabarzon Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council raised its alert status to red to ensure proper monitoring, coordination and response to the quake-affected areas.

Solidum said Tuesday’s quake could possibly be due to a movement along the Lubang Fault, but it would not trigger the movement of the West Valley Fault, which is “ripe” for a major earthquake.

A 2004 study funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency for Phivolcs and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority showed that the West Valley Fault is capable of generating a magnitude-7.2 quake that could kill up to 34,000 people and injure 100,000 others due to collapsed buildings.

The fault runs from Marikina to Laguna, cutting through parts of eastern and southern Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, Malacañang urged the public to refrain from spreading false information that can cause alarm as it reminded residents in quake-hit areas to remain vigilant.

“We ask our people, especially the residents of the province of Batangas, to remain vigilant and alert in light of last night’s earthquake,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement yesterday.

“Let us refrain from forwarding news from unverified sources that may cause undue alarm and panic,” he added. – With Jaime Laude, Alexis Romero