At least five earthquakes shook the country on Christmas day, with four of them occurring in southern Luzon, based on the monitoring of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

However, netizens also reported quakes felt in parts of Central Luzon.

According to Phivolcs, a magnitude 6.3 quake jolted Batangas and nearby areas, including Metro Manila at around 7:43 a.m. of Christmas Day.

A few aftershocks were recorded following the quake, mostly in the Batangas area.

Another tremor struck at 4:37 p.m. 15 kilometers west of Lubang, Occidental Mindoro, while a third quake struck Davao Occidental at magnitude 5.3.

A fourth quake was also recorded in San Francisco, Quezon at 6:04 p.m.

The fifth quake was recorded from Taal Volcano. While Phivolcs did not disclose the magnitude of the tremor, it raised Alert Level 1 (abnormal) over volcano area, which means sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within the area or the Taal Volcano Island (TVI).

Phivolcs also strongly recommended that entry into TVI, Taal’s permanent danger zone, especially the vicinities of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, must remain strictly prohibited.

Taal Volcano erupted earlier this year and displaced thousands of people in parts of southern Luzon.

Meanwhile, netizens also reported feeling quakes in Bataan, Pampanga and Bulacan also on Sunday. CURRENTPH