PHIVOLCS: Many 'fled' but few had emergency bags

There’s still a bit of room for improvement in our earthquake preparedness, said Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Director Renato Solidum, Jr. in an interview with Howie Severino on GMA’s News to Go.

Solidum was apparently encouraged by high level of public awareness but he the noticed the lack of emergency bags among the “evacuees."

"Maraming nag evacuate pero marami pa rin walang emergency bag. Kasi sa tunay na lindol, baka maraming nasira hindi sila makakabalik. Wala silang pagkain, baka hindi sila marespondehan kaagad," Solidum said.

The bag should at least contain food, water, a first aid kit, a flashlight, a whistle, among other things.

When asked about the possibility of earthquake-generated tsunamis, Solidum clarified that an inland earthquake—such as the one that could be caused by the Valley Fault System—would not cause a tsunami.

However, if the Manila trench moves, it could generate a tsunami which can affect the entire Western coastline of the Philippines.

Solidum also reiterated the importance of the drop, cover, and hold procedure whenever an earthquake hits.

One should drop down and crawl under a table or sturdy furniture and should hold on to it because the ground movement might make it slide away.

"Dapat siguraduhin kapag lunmindol kung saan sila pupunta. I-identify kung saan bahagai ng bahay mag drop cover and hold," Solidum said.

But the one thing that the country really needs to look at is conducting regular building inspections to ensure that buildings comply with Philippine building codes.

According to Carlos M. Villaraza, ASEP President, the 2010 National Structural Code of the Philippines was written with a magnitude 8.4 earthquake in mind. 


—Bea Montenegro/NB/TJD, GMA News