January 28, 2021
To whom it may concern:
This is to notify the public and concerned authorities of recent earthquake activity in Pinatubo Volcano.
Since 20 January 2021, the Pinatubo Volcano Network (PVN) and the Philippine Seismic Network (PSN) have detected a total of 826 imperceptible earthquakes east-northeast of Pinatubo Volcano in the vicinities of the City of Mabalacat, Pampanga. The strongest of these earthquakes occurred on 25 January at depths of 15-28 kilometers and ranged between ML1.0 and ML2.5 in magnitudes. Based on the general distribution of located events, these earthquakes were generated along a segment of the Sacobia Lineament, a fault that was last active during the post-eruption period of 1991.
This development serves to remind us once again that several faults occur around the volcano and that these can generate earthquake activity that can be sometimes imperceptible and harmless but that can also sometimes be damaging. On 22 April 2019, a M6.1 earthquake on the southern foot slopes of Pinatubo Volcano shook the Central Luzon region and caused fatalities and substantial damages to buildings, roads and other structures.
DOST-PHIVOLCS would like to assure the public that Pinatubo Volcano remains at Alert Level 0 and remains in quiescent condition. Although there is currently no threat from the above recent earthquake activity, communities and local government units surrounding the volcano, nonetheless, have to be reminded to be always prepared for both earthquake and volcanic hazards and to build on the lessons of what they have experienced in the past years. DOST-
PHIVOLCS continues to strengthen its monitoring of the volcano with ongoing upgrades to the PVN and upcoming geochemical surveys of the Pinatubo crater lake. DOST-PHIVOLCS is closely monitoring the volcano’s condition and any new development will be relayed to all concerned.
DOST-PHIVOLCS