Magnitude 6.6 earthquake strikes Batangas

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck some 16 kilometers southwest of Calatagan, Batangas, on Saturday morning, July 24.

The earthquake, which struck at around 4:49 am, was tectonic in origin with a depth of 116 kilometers, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Phivolcs initially reported that it was a magnitude 6.7 earthquake but later revised this to magnitude 6.6.

Besides Batangas, the earthquake was also felt in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon, as well as the Visayas. Phivolcs said no damage was expected following the tremor.

Reported intensities

Intensity V – Calapan City & Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Sablayan and Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro; Carmona and Dasmariñas City, Cavite

Intensity IV – Quezon City; Marikina City; Manila City; Makati City; Taguig City; Valenzuela City; Pasay City; Tagaytay City, Cavite; Batangas City and Talisay City, Batangas; San Mateo, Rizal

Intensity III – Pasig City; San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan

Instrumental intensities

Intensity V – Calapan City and Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro

Intensity IV – Batangas City, Batangas; Carmona, Cavite; Calumpit and Plaridel, Bulacan

Intensity III – Quezon City; Marikina City; Pasig City; Las Piñas City; Muntinlupa City; Malabon City; Navotas City; San Ildefonso, Pandi, Malolos, San Rafael, and Marilao, Bulacan

Intensity II – San Juan City; Dagupan City; Polillo, Quezon

Intensity I – Guinayangan, Quezon; Magalang, Pampanga; Iriga and Sipocot, Camarines Sur; Daet, Camarines Norte; Palayan City, Nueva Ecija; Iloilo City;
Kalibo, Aklan; San Jose City, Antique; Bago City, Negros Occidental

Aftershocks

At around 4:57 am, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake – which Phivolcs earlier reported as a magnitude 5.1 earthquake – struck the same general area at a depth of 107 kilometers.

More aftershocks of lesser magnitude were recorded until 7 am.

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum explained at the Laging Handa briefing on Saturday that the quake was due to the movement of Manila Trench.

“Ang lindol kaninang 4:48 ng madaling araw ay sanhi ng pagkilos ng Manila Trench.… Walang kinalaman ito sa Taal Volcano,” said Solidum, who was asked if the quake was related to the Taal Volcano unrest.

(The earthquake that we experienced at 4:48 am was due to the movement of the Manila Trench.… It has nothing to do with Taal Volcano.) – With a report from Aika Rey/Rappler.com