Filtered By: Topstories
News

Phivolcs: Preparation apt response to quake scenario


MANILA, Philippines - Preparation and not panic should be the proper response to a United Nations official’s warning of a possible magnitude-7 quake in Metro Manila, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) stressed Thursday. In a radio interview, Phivolcs director Renato Solidum Jr. said the scenario presented by UN official Arjun Kartoch was based on a worst-case scenario used for mapping out rescue plans. “Don’t panic, dapat lang paghandaan [The public should not panic but should prepare. Preparation is the proper response to this]," Solidum said in an interview on dzBB radio. Moreover, Solidum said there is no way to predict accurately when and where an earthquake would strike. “Di natin masabi yan. Sa Metro Manila ang importante dapat isipin natin ang tamang paghanda sa lindol ay di yung iwa-warn at aalis ka [We cannot tell when a quake will hit. But in areas like Metro Manila, the important thing is to prepare properly instead of waiting for a warning to leave]," he said. Kartoch, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Emergency Services Branch, warned an earthquake with a magnitude of about 7 to 8 may hit Metro Manila. He issued the warning on the sidelines of the four-day Second Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction that started Tuesday. Solidum said the OCHA coordinates with the Philippine government through the National Disaster Coordinating Council to train local response groups and international organizations. At least two simulation exercises had been held in the Philippines in 2005 and 2008, Solidum noted. But Solidum stressed the OCHA is mainly involved in preparation for disasters, and is not a monitoring and warning agency. “Isang scenario ang magnitude-7.2 quake na posibleng manggaling sa Valley Fault System. Ito naman ay isang scientific na pag-aaral na kinokonsidera nila. Ang opisina nila hindi monitoring and warning organization kundi nakaka-receive sila ng info na ginagamit nila sa paghahanda," he said. [The supposed powerful quake was one of the scenarios based on scientific study. But the OCHA is not involved in monitoring and giving warning on quakes. It merely gets information that it uses in mapping out plans for preparation.] Solidum said that in the case of the Valley Fault System - formerly Marikina Fault - it moved four times in the last 1,400 years, with movements taking place 200 to 400 years apart. The last movement there was 200 years ago, he said. "Mahirap sabihin malapit na, di natin masabi exactly [It is hard to tell exactly when it will move again]," he said. - GMANews.TV
LOADING CONTENT