MANILA, Philippines — Social distancing was briefly not observed as residents of Lemery panicked amid the magnitude 6.3 earthquake that hit Batangas on Christmas day, the town mayor said Friday.
“Nung primero edi syempre nag-panic ‘yung mga tao, di maiiwasan ‘yung physical distancing pero after that medyo naka-move on na ‘yung mga tao, nag-kwan na agad ng physical distancing ‘yung mga tao,” Lemery town mayor Eulalio Alilio told DZMM Teleradyo.
(Initially, people panicked so it can’t be avoided and physical distancing was briefly interrupted but after that and when residents were able to move on, they observed physical distancing quickly.)
Alilio said there are no reports yet of damaged structures or injured individuals in their town.
“Ang naramdaman lang po ay medyo nag panic ‘yung mga tao dahil kakatapos nga lang ng Bulkang Taal, Yun ang binabantayan ngayon…” Alilio said.
(The residents panicked because of the recent events with Taal Volcano which we are monitoring now.)
In an initial bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the epicenter of the quake was located 10 kilometers northwest of Calatagan, Batangas.
Strong tremors were felt in the areas of Quezon City, Mandaluyong, San Juan in Metro Manila, and Rizal and parts of Cavite.
READ: BREAKING: Magnitude 6.3 quake shakes Luzon on Christmas Day