Manila: A state of calamity was declared in Batangas, southern Luzon after the region was hit by a 5.5 magnitude quake.
The massive temblor was followed by 13 other weaker tremors in the Philippines on Tuesday up to midnight, authorities said.
A damaged historical Catholic church was ordered close for three days of structural assessment.
The quake which occurred seven kilometres north of Tingloy town at 8.58pm on Tuesday damaged the façade of St. Martin of Tours, known as Asia’s oldest Catholic Church.
Some parts of the Batangas Capitol building and other key structures were also affected, Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas said.
Damage at the capitol building was initially estimated at P18 million (Dh1.5 million), said Mandanas.
After a day of inspection, members of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines said other experts will investigate and suggest ways to strengthen the Basilica’s structure.
They did not give an estimate cost of the damage.
Classes were suspended in Batangas, said Mandanas, who initially allotted P200 million (Dh1.66 million) calamity fund for clearing, minor infrastructure repair, and assistance to affected residents of Tingloy.
“Residents of Tingloy just concluded last week their annual earthquake drill. They know what to do during a calamity,” boasted Mark Alvarez, mayor of Tingloy.
Residents of affected villages were given relief assistance, said Evangeline Garcia, head of Tingloy’s Municipal Disaster Office.
The 5.5 magnitude quake registered Intensity 4 in Metro Manila’s Makati City and northern suburban Obando, Bulacan; Intensity 3 in central suburban Mandaluyong City, Quezon City, General Trias and Dasmariñas in southern suburban Cavite, Santa Ana in Manila, and in Lucena City, southern Luzon; and Intensity 2 in Talisay, Batangas, southern Luzon, and Metro Manila’s Pasig City.
The quake did not result in major damage in affected villages, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
But 13 other “weak but disturbing quakes” occurred near the affected areas from past eight to twelve midnight, said Kristofferson Vidad, science research assistant of Phivolcs’ Earthquake Monitoring Division.
He listed a 4.6 magnitude quake which occurred at past 9pm; a 2.5 temblor at 9.17pm; 4 magnitude shock at 10.09pm; 2.2 magnitude quake at 10.16pm; magnitude 2.1 quake at 10.26pm; 4.2 magnitude quake at 10.38pm; magnitude 4.4 magnitude quake at 10.44pm; magnitude 3 quake at 11.1pm; magnitude 4.5 quake at 11.13pm in nearby Balayan town; 2.8 magnitude quake in Tingloy at 11.34pm; magnitude 2.6 quake at 11.40pm; and 2.9 magnitude quake at 11.54pm,
The Philippines is part of Asia-Pacific’s “Ring of Fire” where earthquakes commonly occur.
