New systems to monitor quakes, tsunamis launched

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has started implementing new systems to monitor earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic activities to mitigate loss of life and property caused by disasters.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said the agency is now using real-time monitoring of volcanic activities and new equipment such as broadband seismic sensors, global positioning system, and electromagnetic signal cameras installed in Mayon and Taal volcanoes.

“These enable us to monitor two volcanoes in real time,” Solidum said in a press conference.

He said before the project, the agency relied on data provided by local observers.

“We can now monitor volcanoes anywhere in the world wherever there is an Internet connection or cell phone,” he said.

For earthquake monitoring, the agency is using the rapid earthquake analysis and intensity meters.

“Now we can determine if the ground moves horizontally or vertically. If it moves vertically, it could possibly be followed by a tsunami, while if it moves horizontally we should watch out for possible landslides,” said Solidum.

The installation of new equipment is part of the Phi-volcs’ five-year project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

JICA has allocated P200 million (about 400 million Japanese yen) for the project called “Enhancement of Earthquake and Volcano Monitoring and Effective Utilization of Disaster Mitigation Information in the Philippines.”