3 magnitude-5 earthquakes rattle Luzon

earthquake.usgs.gov

(Updated, 5:54 p.m.) Subsequent earthquakes were felt in parts of Luzon on Saturday afternoon.

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake east northeast of Mabini, Batangas was felt in neighboring provinces and as far as Metro Manila shortly after 3 p.m. It was followed closely by a 5.9-magnitude quake south southwest of Tanauan, Batangas, and then by a 5.0-magnitude quake west northwest of Taysan, Batangas, the United States Geological Services (USGS) said.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), however, recorded, five earthquakes as of 5:51 p.m.

The first one, which was recorded at 3:07 p.m. west of Mabini, Batangas, was measured at magnitude 5.6. The second one at 3:09 p.m. also in Mabini was tipped at magnitude 6.0.

The third one, with a 4.1-magnitude was recorded west of San Luis, Batangas at 3:29 p.m. A 4.7-magnitude quake west of Mabini followed at 4:36 p.m. At 5:26 p.m., a magnitude 3.1-quake was recorded east of Mabini.

Renato Solidum Jr., Philvolcs Director in an interview with CNN Philippines noted that following quakes after the first reported 3:07 p.m. Mabini, Batangas quake were from a different source.

“At 3:09 there is a higher magnitude earthquake but in a deeper location, this is of a different source than the 3:07 earthquake,” Solidum said.

He said that the two following earthquakes were from the Manila Trench, and noted that they were not significantly felt because they are “deep earthquakes.”

Phivolcs in its second earthquake bulletin at 4:40 p.m. noted that in the 3:07 earthquake, these intensities were felt in the following areas:

Intensity 7 – Mabini, Batangas

Intensity 6 –  Calatagan, Nasugbu and Tingloy, Batangas

Intensity 5 – Batangas City, Sto. Tomas and Lemery in Batangas; Tagaytay City in Cavite

Intensity 4 – Dasmarinas, Cavite: Lucena City in Quezon Province; Pateros City

Intensity 3 – Makati City; Pasay City; Quezon City; Muntinlupa City; Malabon City;
Mandaluyong City; Bacoor, Cavite

Intensity 2 – Daet, Camarines Sur

Magnitude refers to the energy released by the earthquake, while intensity refers to a tremor’s strength.

Inquirer staff reported they felt a shaking of the ground in Sta. Mesa, Manila, Sto. Tomas, Batangas, Subic Bay, Zambales, Makati City and Mandaluyong City.

People waiting outside SM Southmall in Las Pinas City after an evacuation was ordered due to strong aftershocks pic.twitter.com/LylMENCj2T

— Ten Avendano (@10avendanoINQ) April 8, 2017

Ongoing evacuation at SM Southmall in Las Pinas City following aftershocks pic.twitter.com/yARsRXEnM8

— Ten Avendano (@10avendanoINQ) April 8, 2017