Magnitude 4.6 quake in Mabini could be due to Taal volcanic activity: Phivolcs

January 20, 2020

A magnitude 4.6 quake jolted Batangas Sunday evening, with the Philippine Instititute of Volcanology and Seismology ( Phivolcs) saying this could have caused by activity in Taal Volcano. Phivolcs said the tremor was detected around 8:59 pm, with its epicenter was plotted 50 kilometers west of Mabini. The reported intensities were: Intensity V in Mabini and Bauan, Batangas Intensity IV in Batangas City and Santo Tomas, Batangas Intensity III in Malvar, Cuenca, Tanauan, San Pascual, and Calatagan, Batangas; Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro and San Pablo, Laguna Intensity II in Alfonso, Cavite; San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro Intensity I in Tagaytay City Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum Jr. on Monday explained the tremors might have been caused by continuous activity in the Taal Volcano. “These quakes in Mabini, Batangas are due to the movement of the fault that has been active since the series of earthquakes struck in April 2017 while the Taal Volcano was showing signs of activity,” he said. Alert level four is still in effect over the Taal Volcano posing possible hazardous explosive eruption within hours to days.Residents withing 14-17 kilometer radius from the main crater are urged to evacuate in safer places. Heavy and prolonged ashfall are still expected. “Based on PAGASA ( Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) wind forecast, if the eruption plume remains below three km, ash will be drifted to west and southwest of the Main Crater,” said Phivolcs. “If the eruption plume rises between three to five) km ash will also be drifted to parts of Cavite province. If a major eruption occurs during the day and the eruption column exceeds five kilometers, ash will also be drifted over Metro Manila, Laguna, and some parts of Rizal and Northern Quezon,” it added. Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS