Residents of Luzon have been quietly going about their daily routines and celebrating Christmas when they were rattled by a Magnitude 6.3 earthquake at 7:43 AM. This was also felt in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
The quake’s epicenter was registered at 15 kilometers southwest of the Municipality of Calatagan, Batangas with a depth of 109 kilometers and is tectonic in origin.
Phivolcs recorded Intensity V in Batangas City and the towns of Calatagan, Balayan, Nasugbu, Balayan, Calaca and San Luis in Batangas; Tagaytay City, Amadeo, Indang, Kawit and Alfonso,Cavite; Lubang and Looc, Occidental Mindoro; and Biñan, Laguna.
Intensity IV was registered in Abra de Ilog and Paluan, Occidental Mindoro; Taal, San Jose, San Pascual, Lemery, Malvar and Ibaan, Batangas; Maragundon and Carmona, Cavite; San Pedro, Laguna; City of Manila; Marikina City; Quezon City; Cainta, San Mateo and Antipolo City, Rizal; Pasig City; Las Piñas City; Obando, Malolos, and Meycauyan, Bulacan; Subic and San Felipe, Zambales; Alaminos, Pangasinan; Santo Tomas, La Union; and the City of Mabalacat, Pampanga.
Intensity III was indicated in Talisay and Santo Tomas, Batangas; Puerto Galera, Pinamalayan, Naujan, San Teodoro and Calapan, Oriental Mindoro; Caloocan City; Tanay,Rizal; San Jose Del Monte City and Plaridel, Bulacan; San Jose City and Gapan City, Nueva Ecija; Cabangan and Iba, Zambales; Samal, Bataan; Floridablanca and Santa Ana, Pampanga; Valenzuela City; and Malabon City
Intensity II was noted in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija; Alaminos City, Pangasinan; Lucban and Guinayangan, Quezon; and Doña Remedios, Trinidad. And Intensity I in Villasis, Pangasinan; and Lucena City, Quezon
Phivolcs Director Reynato Solidum said that the trembler was caused by the movement of a block of rocks at the West Philippine Sea which slipped downwards. There are no expected damages aside from poorly built structures in Intensity V areas.
“’Yung lindol ay considered na, na malakas na lindol, pero dahil po ito malalim…
ay hindi naman po ito mararamdaman o hindi mapanira. Hindi tayo nag i-expect ng significant damage (The earthquake is considered strong but since it is deep, it was hardly felt or hazardous. We are not expecting a significant damage,” Phivolcs Director Reynato Solidum explained.
Dir. Solidum clarified that the earthquake has nothing to do with Taal Volcano and no tsunami has occurred. There has been no effect observed on the said active volcano. But since the quake took place at the Manila Trench, this could be a possible source of The Big One.
“’Yung posibilidad na magkaroon ng malakas na paglindol sa iba’t ibang lugar within the Philippines and in particular dito sa paligid ng Metro Manila, nandiyan po ‘yon. Pero it does not mean na malapit na (The possibility of having a strong earthquake in different places within the Philippines and in particular around Metro Manila is there. But it does not mean that it is happening soon,” Phivolcs Director Reynato Solidum – Report by Cleizl B. Pardilla
