MANILA- The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said the public may expect more temblors in the coming days after the series of tremors in Batangas during the weekend.
PHIVOLCS Director Renato Solidum on Monday said the multiple quakes felt in Batangas and nearby parts of Luzon are part of a “swarm” which can last for days.
“The series of earthquakes in Batangas are all related as one fault system or one fault moving incrementally to generate succeeding or successive small earthquake events,” he said on ANC’s “Dateline Philippines.”
“Well an earthquake swarm can last for days or even weeks so there can still be earthquakes in the next few days,” he added.
Solidum however allayed fears that the 'Big One' was at hand.
Earthquakes jolted Mabini town in Batangas Saturday afternoon a minute apart: first a magnitude 5.7 at 3:08 p.m., followed by a magnitude 5.9.
A third quake hit Taysan town in Batangas 20 minutes later at magnitude 5.0.
Solidum clarified that there was no basis in saying that the recent shocks are signs of the “Big One.”
“The faults in Batangas and other areas are not connected to the West Valley fault so there will be no basis for saying that these earthquakes are precursors to the big earthquake in Metro Manila,” Solidum said.
But he advised the public to be prepared in the event that a strong shock happens.
“Essentially, people are advised to just be prepared in case of a strong shock to do the precautionary measures so they are protected in case another earthquake happens,” he said.
Meanwhile, Katrin Buted, spokesperson of Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas, said the provincial government was still determining whether to place the entire province under a state of calamity.
Over 3,000 people are still staying at evacuation centers all over Batangas province while damage to the provincial capital's infrastructure has been estimated to be worth P70 million, Buted said.
Buted also tourists' fears, saying Batangas remains safe to visit, noting the absence of aftershocks since Sunday and the heightened implementation of safety measures in the province.
“Definitely it is still safe to go to Batangas since there are no aftershocks recorded since yesterday (Sunday). Safety measures are being implemented everywhere,” she said.
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