Do earthquakes trigger more earthquakes? Not necessarily, expert explains

When earthquakes occur, some people believe that it could trigger even more earthquakes in nearby areas. Is there any truth to this fear?

According to an expert, this is not necessarily the case.

"'Yung triggering na sinasabi natin nangyayari lamang 'yan kung ang fault na malapit ay handa nang gumalaw," said Dr. Winchelle Sevilla, Chief Science Research Specialist of the Seismological Observation and Earthquake Prediction Division of DOST-PHIVOLCS.

"May mga instances din na instead na mapagalaw, puwede rin niyang mapatagal pa 'yung actual na paggalaw. So basically na-relieve niya 'yung stress," he explained in Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras Weekend," Saturday.

As for why there seem to be more earthquakes recently, he said it's because we have more instruments detecting seismic activity, and they are also more modernized.

"Totoo na recently mas marami tayong nade-detect at nare-record na mga lindol. Pero ito ay more on dahil dumadami na 'yung ating mga seismic stations," he said.

On Friday, Davao Oriental was hit by a doublet earthquake, the first with a magnitude of 7.4 and the next with a magnitude of 6.8. "Doublet" refers to two closely-timed earthquakes happening nearby.

On September 30, Cebu was also hit by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that was followed by over 10,000 aftershocks.

The Philippines is one of the countries sitting on the Pacific Ring of Fire, also called the Circum-Pacific Belt. Other countries in this area include Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand, United States, and Chile.

Around 75% of the world's active volcanoes are located on the Ring of Fire, an area known for its high volcanic and seismic activities. —MGP, GMA Integrated News