Earthquakes Damage Popular Dive Resort in Philippines

A series of powerful earthquakes in the Philippines prompted tourists to leave a popular diving resort over the weekend.

According to Deustche Welle, a series of three earthquakes struck northwest of Mabini, southwest of Tanauan, and northwest of Taysan over the course of 20 minutes. The earthquakes ranged in magnitude from 5.0 to 5.9 on the Richter scale.

The earthquakes damaged buildings and caused tourists to flee a popular dive resort in Batangas, Camp Netanya, near to where the most powerful earthquake hit, the Philippine Star reports. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the earthquakes, although resort guests stayed outside damaged buildings for more than an hour as aftershocks rattled the area. The earthquakes also caused landslides, blocking two roads and damaging the Saint Martin of Tours Basilica, a hospital and certain houses in the area.

According to another analysis in the Philippine Star, the earthquakes are not expected to lead to any larger tremors. Previously it had been feared that the earthquakes could be signs of movement of the West Valley Fault, which could cause considerable damage to Manila.

Renato Solidum Jr., director of Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, however, told the Star that the earthquakes are most likely related to faults in the area, but no the West Valley Fault.

"It could just mean that faults are moving, it does not mean anything in a sense of a pattern," he said.

The resort region of Batanagas is a coastal area famous for its marine life and coral reefs.