Magnitude 5.6 quake temporarily strands passengers, stalls cargoes at Batangas Port

The magnitude 5.6 earthquake that jolted Batangas anew around 3:07 p.m. on Saturday has temporarily stranded passengers and stalled cargoes bound for neighboring Mindoro island. (Photo: Ramon FVelasquez/ Wikipedia)

CAMP VICENTE LIM–The magnitude 5.6 earthquake that jolted Batangas anew around 3:07 p.m. on Saturday has temporarily stranded passengers and stalled cargoes bound for neighboring Mindoro island.

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Calabarzon reported that the Philippine Coast Guard stationed at the Batangas Port issued the public advisory around 4 p.m. that all sea travels from Batangas to Mindoro and vice versa were temporarily suspended as aftershocks were experienced at the port.

In an interview with PNA, OCD Calabarzon public information officer Georgina Garcia said the coast guard authorities later lifted the advisory and port operations resumed.

Garcia said that while coast guard and port authorities were consolidating the number of passengers and cargoes that were temporarily stranded, the trips were eventually resumed based on coast guard go signal for sea-going vessels.

She said coast guard had the authority to hold the trip as necessary and as a precautionary measure for the safety and security of the passengers and vessels.

She said priority was given to those passengers who had their earlier scheduled trips when the temporary suspension was declared.

Meanwhile, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Director Dr. Renato Solidum advised the public to be prepared for some slow tremors and aftershocks from the 5.6 quake

The quake which struck anew was traced with its epicenter at Mabini, Batangas with a depth of four kilometers.

It is the second strong quake of tectonic origin to hit Batangas in four days following the first 5.5 magnitude quake on Tuesday evening with epicenter located off Tingloy island.

Intensity VII was felt in Mabini, Batangas; Intensity VI in Calatagan, Nasugbu and Tingloy, Batangas.

Batangas City, Sto Tomas and Lemery, Batangas and Tagaytay City felt the tremor at Intensity V.

Intensity IV was experienced in Dasmariñas City, Cavite; Lucena City in Quezon Province and Pateros City in Metro Manila;

Bacoor City, Cavite and Metro Manila cities of Makati, Pasay, Quezon, Muntinlupa, Malabon and Mandaluyong were on Intensity III while Daet, Camarines Sur felt Intensity II.