Batanes is experiencing an “earthquake or seismic swarm” which explains the series of tremors that hit the area for the past few days, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Since March 1, four moderate tectonic earthquakes have been recorded by Phivolcs over Batanes area.

Last Friday morning, two moderate tectonic earthquakes were recorded in the area.

Phivolcs recorded the first earthquake at 8:45 a.m. at magnitude 4.7 in the Richter Magnitude Scale. It was located some 30 kilometers (km) southeast of Basco, Batanes with a focal depth of 28 km. The quake was felt at Intensity IV in Basco and Sabtang, Batanes.

It recorded the second tremor, a 5.0-magnitude tectonic earthquake at 9:44 a.m. The quake, located some 47 km southeast of Basco, Batanes had a shallow focal depth of 27 km. It was felt at Intensity IV in Basco and Sabtang, Batanes and at Intensity II in Itbayat and Ivana, Batanes.

Phivolcs Director Dr. Renato Solidum said that the two quakes were not caused by one earthquake generator but they happened in the same vicinity.

Last Thursday, a 4.9-magnitude tectonic earthquake rocked Batanes at 10:08 a.m. The quake, located some 48 km southeast of Basco, Batanes had a shallow focal depth of 7 km. It was felt at Intensity III in Basco, Batanes. Solidum said the quake was caused by a local fault southeast offshore of Batanes.

Last March 1, a 5.1-magnitude tectonic earthquake hit Basco, Batanes at 12:05 a.m. It was traced 128 km southwest of Basco, Batanes and it was felt at Intensity IV in Sanchez Mira, Cagayan. (with report from Freddie G. Lazaro)