2 mild earthquakes sway Batangas town

At least six alleged communist New People’s Army (NPA) and a government soldier were killed in an encounter early Sunday morning (Dec. 17) in Balayan town in Batangas province, the military said.

Batangas map. INQUIRER FILES

LUCENA CITY — Two successive mild earthquakes hit Calatagan town in Batangas province early Monday, Jan. 22.

A 3.7-magnitude tectonic quake was recorded at 3:33 a.m. with its epicenter located 13 kilometers southwest of Calatagan, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported in its bulletin.

The earthquake had a depth of 179 km.

A few minutes later, the same coastal town also experienced a magnitude 2.4 tectonic tremor with 61 kilometers depth of focus at 3:57 a.m.

Phivolcs said the temblors were not expected to cause damage or aftershocks.

READ: Magnitude 4.9 earthquake jolts Batangas

Batangas is one of the most seismically active areas in the Philippines, generated mainly by the Lubang Fault, located between Mindoro Island and Batangas.

On Jan. 20, a magnitude 4.9 tectonic earthquake rocked Tingloy town. No damage was reported.

Before midnight on Jan. 19, a 3.3 magnitude tectonic tremor also shook Nasugbu town.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where continental plates collide causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity. INQ

READ: Series of quakes hit Mabini, Batangas

Read more...