DR. Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Volcanalogy and Seismology urged the people of Batangas on Wednesday not to panic despite some strong aftershocks brought about by an intensity 5.5 earthquake that struck Tingloy, Batangas at 8:58 p.m. on Tuesday.
Aftershocks are just normal after a strong quake, he said.
Robert Esplida, science research analyst of the seismology division, said as of 3 p.m. Wednesday, Phivolcs was able to record at least 500 aftershocks.
Gov. Hemilando Mandanas has declared a state of calamity in the whole province.
“Nine of those aftershocks were felt. The strongest of the nine occurred Wednesday at 12:49 a.m. with an intensity 3 felt in [Cavite’s]) Tagaytay [City], [and Metro Manila’s]Quezon City and Pasay City, and an intensity 2 in Talisay, Batangas,” he told the Manila Standard.
As far as an imminent tsunami threat is concerned, Solidum said “there was none.”
“Our protocol is, even if we see there is no such threat, we will not mention about it. For the sake of the people’s understanding, there is none,” he said.
“In the event there is [tsunami] threat, it is our responsibility to let you know about it.”
He said there is no instrument or technology that could predict where a quake could hit a certain area and how strong that would be.
He appealed to the public not to circulate or share fake or unverified information, saying Phivolcs website was the best tool to get the right information.
“As I have always said, we must be prepared for a stronger one,” he said.
The quake was tectonic in origin, which means the tremor was caused by the movement of the earth’s crust.
Its epicenter was located seven kilometers northwest of Tingloy town.
According to Esplida, an active fault offshore in the area was responsible for the ground shaking.
“The fault in the Batangas-Mindoro area moved horizontally,” Solidum said.
The quake was felt strongest at intensity 6 in Batangas City.
Malvar and Calatagan, Batangas felt an intensity 5, while Makati City; Obando in Bulacan; Silang, Noveleta, Imus and Indang in Cavite; Calamba, Laguna; Sta. Ana, Manila; Valenzuela City; Cavite’s Tagaytay City, and Cuenca, Batangas felt an intensity 4 tremor.
An intensity 3 was felt Mandaluyong City; Quezon City; General Trias and Dasmariñas in Cavite; Pasay City; Lucena City, and Sta. Rosa in Laguna, while Talisay in Batangas, Abra de Ilog in Occidental Mindoro, Pasig City and Meycauayan in Bulacan had intensity 2. With John Paolo Bencito
