Christmas Day quakes jolt Luzon, S. Mindanao

YEAR-END SHAKES One of the houses in Lubang, Occidental Mindoro, damaged by the 6.3-magnitude earthquake on Christmas Day. Right photo shows Phivolcs Science Research Specialist 1 Bhenz Rodriguez pointing at the epicenter and aftershocks in the earthquake area. —LUBANG PNP/GRIG C.MONTEGRANDE

CITY OF CALAPAN — A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the southern Tagalog province of Batangas on Friday morning, Christmas Day, its impact felt as far as Metro Manila and, farther north, in parts of Central Luzon and the Ilocos region.

The quake also damaged homes on Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro province, south of Batangas.

Another earthquake was recorded later in the morning in Sarangani province in Mindanao.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the Batangas quake occurred at 7:43 a.m., about 11 kilometers to 15 km southwest of Calatagan, and triggered at least 10 aftershocks.

In a radio interview, Science and Technology Undersecretary Renato Solidum said the earthquake was tectonic in nature due to the movement of plates in the oceanic trench, west of the islands of Luzon and Mindoro, also called the Manila Trench.

Damage, intensity

Batangas reported no casualty, said provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Lito Castro.

But in Lubang island off Occidental Mindoro, at least eight houses in the municipality also named Lubang were damaged, according to the police chief, Lt. Ivan Bayla, who also reported walls collapsing and fences destroyed by the quake. There was no reported damage in other parts of the Mimaropa region (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), according to Efril Maranan, the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office head in the region. The earthquake was felt at Intensity 5 in the municipalities of Calatagan, Balayan, Nasugbu, Calaca, and San Luis and Batangas City, in Batangas; in the municipalities of Amadeo, Indang, Kawit and Alfonso and Tagaytay City in Cavite province; in the municipalities of Lubang and Looc in Occidental Mindoro province; and in Biñan City in Laguna province.

The quake was felt at Intensity 4 in the cities of Manila, Quezon, Marikina, Pasig and Las Piñas in Metro Manila; in Antipolo City and in the municipalities of Cainta and San Mateo in Rizal province; in the municipalities of Taal, San Jose, San Pascual, Lemery, Malvar and Ibaan in Batangas; in the municipalities of Maragondon and Carmona in Cavite; in San Pedro City, Laguna; in the municipality of Obando and in the cities of Malolos and Meycauayan in Bulacan; in the municipalities of Subic and San Felipe in Zambales; in the municipality of Alaminos in Pangasinan; in the municipality of Santo Tomas, in La Union; in the city of Mabalacat, Pampanga; and in the municipalities of Abra de Ilog and Paluan in Occidental Mindoro.

It was felt at Intensity 3 in the municipality of Talisay and the city of Sto. Tomas, Batangas; in the municipalities of Puerto Galera, Pinamalayan, Naujan and San Teodoro and in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro; in the municipality of Tanay, in Rizal; in San Jose del Monte City and in the municipality of Plaridel, in Bulacan; in the cities of San Jose and Gapan in Nueva Ecija; in the municipalities of Cabangan and Iba, in Zambales; in the municipality of Samal, in Bataan; in the municipalities of Floridablanca and Sta. Ana, in Pampanga; and in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon and Valenzuela in Metro Manila.

Intensity 2 was felt in the municipality of San Isidro, in Nueva Ecija; in the municipalities of Lucban and Guinayangan, in Quezon; and in the municipality of Doña Remedios Trinidad, in Bulacan.

Intensity 1 was felt in the municipality of Villasis, in Pangasinan; and in Lucena City, Quezon province.

Sarangani temblor

Phivolcs said the quake recorded 89 km south off Sarangani town in Davao Occidental had a 5.2 magnitude and was also of tectonic origin.

The quake occurred at 10 a.m. Intensity 2 was felt in the municipality of Alabel, Sarangani.

Intensity I was recorded in the municipality of Kiamba, in Sarangani; in Koronadal City, capital of South Cotabato; and in General Santos City. —WITH REPORTS FROM NIKKA G. VALENZUELA AND RYAN D. ROSAURO INQ