31 aftershocks recorded

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded yesterday 31 aftershocks following the magnitude 5.7 earthquake that hit Batangas on Wednesday night.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum, however, allayed fears that the tremor also felt in Metro Manila and nearby provinces was a prelude to the dreaded major earthquake he has been urging the public to prepare for.

Solidum said the magnitude 5.7 earthquake was caused by the movement of the Lubang Fault.

“The fault that could generate severe ground shaking in Metro Manila is the West Valley Fault,” Solidum said.

He said the Lubang Fault frequently moves but is not known to create major earthquakes, unlike the West Valley Fault cutting through Manila.

The West Valley Fault that cuts through Marikina has been projected to generate what state seismologists call “The Big One,” a highly destructive earthquake in Metro Manila of at least magnitude 7.

Phivolcs said Metro Manila and nearby provinces might be isolated due to collapsed roads and buildings if a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits the National Capital Region.

Solidum said a movement in the West Valley Fault, estimated to generate a huge tremor, could cause a tsunami as high as 18 feet that could damage over 100,000 residential buildings.

Better preparedness

Sen. Loren Legarda renewed yesterday her call for better earthquake preparedness efforts.

Legarda made the statement following the earthquake that hit parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, Wednesday. The epicenter of the quake was in Calatagan, Batangas.

“We do not want to sow fear among our citizens but we have to constantly remind everyone to prepare for earthquakes because we cannot predict when they will occur. We should at least be ready for a 7.2 magnitude earthquake,” she said.

Legarda reminded authorities that the 2004 Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS) warned of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Metro Manila that may destroy 40 percent of residential buildings, cause 34,000 deaths, injure 114,000 individuals and the ensuing fires may also result in 18,000 additional fatalities.

She said that retrofitting of buildings and infrastructure and conducting regular safety drills are two of the most important actions that must be taken in preparing for earthquakes.

Legarda also cited the need to conduct earthquake drills to enable citizens to respond quickly and equip them with knowledge of what to do before, during and after such disasters.

Among the priority steps that must be undertaken for earthquake preparedness are the establishment of an early warning system for earthquake and tsunami; determining open spaces for safe refuge when temblors occur; and crafting evacuation plans that would help citizens find the fastest and safest way to reach open spaces and other safe areas.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino yesterday called for a metro-wide earthquake drill.

Tolentino said government offices, local government units and private firms should do earthquake drills and disaster management training regularly to refresh the public’s awareness and know-how on what to do during and after an earthquake.

Tolentino, concurrent chairman of the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee, also stressed that the metro-wide earthquake drill should cover all 17 local government units in the metropolis.

Tolentino also organized the MMDA’s “Oplan Metro Yakal,” an earthquake contingency plan designed to be carried out should a severe tremor hit Metro Manila. – With Christina Mendez, Mike Frialde