PHIVOLCS debunks fake news about Mindanao earthquake

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Sunday warned the public about fake news regarding the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of Sarangani last week.

“Sa panahon ngayon, maraming mali at nakakalitong impormasyon ang maaaring kumalat. Huwag basta maniniwala! Alamin ang tamang impormasyon mula sa official website at social media accounts ng DOST-PHIVOLCS,” PHIVOLCS said in a Facebook post.

(Today, there are many wrong and confusing information that may spread. Don’t believe them too easily! Find out the correct information from the official website and social media accounts of DOST-PHIVOLCS.)

These are some of the fake news that state volcanologists debunked:

• That a strong earthquake up to magnitude 8.2 will hit at 3 a.m.

PHIVOLCS said earthquakes can strike at any day and time and there is no technology yet that can predict the exact date and time that earthquakes may happen.

• The earthquake was caused by volcanoes under Sarangani Bay.

The June 8 earthquake was tectonic in nature, which means that it was caused by the movement of the Cotabato Trench. There are no active volcanoes under water in the Sarangani Bay.

• Cracks on the shore and mountains are fault lines that caused the magnitude 7.8 earthquake.

PHIVOLCS said these cracks are not active faults. Cracks found in the mountains are tension cracks that may become landslides, while cracks on shores and rivers are called lateral spread due to liquefaction.

The June 9 earthquake was caused by movement of the Cotabato Trench.

PHIVOLCS advised the public to check their website and social media accounts on Facebook and X for correct, up-to-date information about earthquakes. — JMA, GMA News