Volcano-tectonic quakes jolt Batangas

MANILA, Philippines — Mild earthquakes shook parts of Batangas near Taal Volcano yesterday.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said quakes with magnitudes of 3.7 and 3.5 occurred at around 8:30 a.m. and 8:09 a.m., respectively.

The quakes were felt at Intensity 2 in Taal.

A magnitude 3.2 quake occurred at around 8:14 a.m. It was felt at Intensity 2 in San Luis and San Nicolas.

Phivolcs said  the quakes are “volcano-tectonic.”

The Taal Volcano Network recorded four earthquakes that are associated with rock-fracturing processes beneath and around the volcano.

Taal Volcano remained at Alert Level 1, which means it remains in abnormal condition.

Seismologists said volcano-tectonic earthquakes occur when rocks move to fill in spaces where magma is no longer present. They said it is not an indication of an impending  volcanic eruption.