Tarlac: The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Wednesday that the seismic vault of the San Jose Observation Station in Tarlac was forced open and some equipment were stolen. Among the items taken were the Kinemetrics Q330HRS+ Quanterra digitizer worth approximately PHP1.144 million and solar batteries worth approximately PHP70,000.

According to Philippines News Agency, Quanterra digitizers record and convert to usable formats all earthquake signal data detected by sensitive seismic sensors connected by specialized cables. The station operates a borehole seismic sensor for recording a wide range of volcanic earthquakes caused by magma intrusion beneath Pinatubo Volcano in Pampanga, as well as for detecting tectonic earthquakes for the Philippine Seismic Network. It also contributed data for the recording and aftershock monitoring of large-magnitude earthquakes that severely affected Northern Luzon since 2022.

The latest theft is the third incident at the station, following theft of its solar panels in October and December 2024. Phivolcs enjoins the local government units and communities in and around Pinatubo to help keep volcano monitoring facilities safe from illegal acts so that operational coverage of every sector of the volcano can be sustained for their collective readiness and safety.

"Any information concerning the above case of theft, as well as all prompt reporting of similar incidents in the future, will be of great importance to our collective safety," Phivolcs said in a news release. Republic Act 10344 or the Risk Reduction and Preparedness Equipment Protection Act of 2012 penalizes the unauthorized taking, stealing, keeping or tampering of government risk reduction and preparedness equipment, accessories, and similar facilities.