Quake damages Taal Basilica

The 5.5 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday evening left damages on the centuries-old Taal Basilica. Photo by Concerned Taaleños for Heritage Preservation & Patrimony (CTHPP)

SAN PEDRO CITY – The 5.5 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday evening left damages to the centuries-old Taal Basilica in Batangas province.

Photos shared on Facebook by the advocacy group Concerned Taaleños for Heritage Preservation and Patrimony (CTHPP) showed a portion of the church’s facade chipped off.

The St. Martin de Tours Basilica, popularly known as the Taal Basilica, was erected in 1575. The church, famous for its Baroque architecture and Trompe-l’oeil painted ceilings, is also a declared historical site.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the offshore quake centered somewhere in Tingloy Batangas struck at 8:58 p.m. and was felt in parts of Metro Manila and Southern Luzon. There was no casualty reported