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The country is now more prepared if another major earthquake of magnitude 7.7 hits anew, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said on Monday. PHIVOLCS director Teresito Bacolcol said that the chances of a major earthquake happening today are still there, citing the magnitude 7.
7 earthquake that hit Luzon in 1990 and the magnitude 8.1 quake in Mindanao in 1976. “Yes, mas mataas pa sa magnitude 7.
7 ang pwede natin na maranasan. In fact, naranasan na natin ito dati pa, nung July 16, 1990 earthquake, umabot ang lindol ng magnitude 7.8 at noong August 17, 1976, nagkaroon ng magnitude 8.
1 sa may Mindanao, sa Moro Gulf, at kumitil ito ng higit kumulang 8,000 people,” he said in Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. “So the possibility that we will experience a magnitude 7.7 earthquake and above is always there.
” (Yes, we could experience an earthquake greater than magnitude 7.7. In fact, we already experienced this before, the July 16, 1990 earthquake reached magnitude 7.
8 and on August 17, 1976 there was a magnitude 8.1 earthquake in Mindanao, particularly in Moro Gulf, which killed some 8,000 people. So the possibility that we will experience magnitude 7.
7 earthquake and above is always there.) However, PHIVOLCS said that Filipinos are more aware now of the impacts of earthquakes compared to several decades ago. “We cannot be a hundred percent prepared, that’s quite impossible.
But I would say that we are more prepared now than before. Malaki ang naitulong ng NDRRMC sa ating awareness dahil sa ginagawa nating quarterly earthquake drills. People are now more aware than 20 or 30 years ago about earthquakes and impacts of earthquakes,” said Bacolcol.
The PHIVOLCS official made the statement following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that hit Myanmar last week, which killed 1,700 individuals. Experts have been warning of the so-called “Big One” , a magnitude 7.
2 earthquake that could hit Metro Manila and nearby areas. If this happens, more than 50,000 individuals could die and at least 12% of residential buildings could be damaged. Bacolcol said that major earthquakes could occur almost everywhere in the country.
He added that they are currently monitoring six trenches that are “capable of generating major and even great earthquakes” and producing tsunamis: East Luzon Trough, Philippine Trench, Cotabato Trench, Sulu Trench, Negros Trench, and Manila Trench. “Kung saan sa Pilipinas, except sa Palawan, halos lahat ng parte ng Pilipinas ay may mga active faults. We have more than 180 active fault segments and six trenches, and these are all capable of generating light to major and even great earthquakes.
So kailangan talaga nating paghandaan,” said Bacolcol. (Except in Palawan, almost all parts of the Philippines have active faults. We have more than 180 active fault segments and six trenches, and these are all capable of generating light to major and even great earthquakes.
So we really need to prepare for it.) While the country could be more prepared now, the PHIVOLCS official said that there are still challenges that need to be addressed such as the retrofitting of infrastructures. “There are still challenges that we need to hurdle and we’re on our way.
Isa na dito, for example, yung infrastructure vulnerability. So some older buildings, roads, bridges, and critical infrastructures in Metro Manila may not be earthquake resistant. Retrofitting and reinforcing buildings are important, at ginagawa naman ito ng ating gobyerno,” said Bacolcol.
Further, PHIVOLCS advised families residing in high-rise buildings to determine the emergency exits and have an emergency kit - which includes flashlight, water, food, and medicines that are good for three months. Bacolcol also said that families must practice the “duck, cover, and hold” and identify a meeting point if ever they separate ways during the disaster. Office of Civil Defense Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno earlier in the day said the country should not only prepare for the Big One.
“We have six other active trenches. There are two levels of preparations: for response by the national government agencies, we are ready and the plans are in place. But [the second level of preparation is] for the engineering solutions, [and] we have to catch up,” Nepomuceno told GMA News Online.
“Meaning, houses, buildings, and other structures must be fully compliant with the building code. We need to conduct structural integrity, audit, and strengthen our homes, buildings, etc.,” he added.
—Vince Angelo Ferreras.
