MANILA, Philippines — (UPDATE 5 – 4:31 p.m.) A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck near Nasugbu, Batangas early Friday afternoon but the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said no damage is expected because of the tremor’s depth but it did warn of aftershocks.
Neither, said Phivolcs director Renato Solidum, is a tsunami expected.
The quake struck at 1:43 p.m. with its epicenter 16 kilometers southwest from Nasugbu at a depth of 160 kilometers.
Phivolcs said the quake was felt at Intensity IV in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro; Subic, Zambales; Rosario, Cavite; Manila City; Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.
It was felt at Intensity III in Pateros City; Quezon City; Makati City; Malolos, Bulacan; Cainta, Rizal; Calamba, Laguna.
Intensity II was felt in Magalang, Pampanga and Tanauan City, Batangas, and Intensity I in Talisay, Batangas.
The temblor caused panic among people in affected areas who ran out of buildings and scampered to safety as the ground shook beneath them.
These included policemen and personnel of the Manila Police District, students in some schools in the city, and employees of the Government Service Insurance System and the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pasay City, as well as those working in Malacañang in Manila.
In Northern Luzon, the administration of the University of Baguio (UB) suspended classes in all levels minutes after people felt a slight.
According to the Philippines News Agency, the following local government units, universities, and colleges were prompted to declare class suspensions.
Dasmariñas, Cavite – all levels, public and private
Olongapo – all levels
Subic – all levels, public and private
Taguig City – all levels, public and private
De La Salle University – Taft, Makati, BGC and Laguna campuses
FEATI Univerrsity
Eulogio Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology – all levels
Manila Tytana Colleges – all levels
Philippine Women’s University – Manila campus
Polytechnic University of the Philippines – all NCR campuses
University of Batangas – all levels
University of the East – all levels
Meanwhile, Solidum noted that the April quake that struck Mabini, also in Batangas, which caused substantial damage to several areas of the province, was much shallower, only 39 kilometers.
Describing Friday’s quake, on the other hand, Solidum said: “Malayo na po ‘yung pinanggalingan mismo ng lindol, at sa ganung lalim, habang tumatahak ‘yung energy ng earthquake ay naa-absorb ng mga batong dinadaanan, kaya ‘yung umaabot na lakas ng lindol sa ibabaw ay mas mahina na lalo kaysa sa pinaka-pinanggalingan niya sa ilalim,” explained Solidum.
[The earthquake originated from far away, and at that depth, as the energy of the earthquake travels, it is absorbed by the rocks it passes, which is why the energy of the earthquake that reaches the surface is weaker than it was at its origin.]
Asked if the earthquake could affect the West Valley Fault and trigger “the Big One,” Solidum explained that the West Valley Fault could move independently, which is why it is important to prepare for it “seriously.” – with Aldwin Quitasol
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