The magnitude 5.4 earthquake that hit Batangas has caused damage not just to homes and business establishments but also to the centuries old Taal Basilica, more formally known as the Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours located in Taal, Batangas.
It was just a few minutes to 9 PM on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, when the earthquake rocked Batangas and nearby places. Its epicenter was determined to be located 7 kilometers northwest of Tingloy town, Batangas.
More aftershocks followed the first earthquake, with six recorded in the area before midnight.
Taal Mayor Pong Mercado shared several photos of the damaged Taal Basilica, with several large chunks seen on the ground in front of the cathedral. Thankfully, no people were there during the earthquake as those chunks could have easily taken a life if they fell on somebody!
Mercado expressed relief that there were no major damages in the municipality but said that this should be a wake-up call for everyone to always be ready and stay alert should there be natural calamities such as earthquakes, especially because there are a lot of heritage houses in the area.
As of press time, though, a lot of people have opted to stay out of their homes, in fear that stronger aftershocks might be felt in the town.
Aside from rocking Batangas, the earthquake was also felt in Makati City, Bulacan, Lucena City in Quezon province, Manila, Cavite, Mandaluyong, and Quezon City.