Mansion owners along Quezon City earthquake fault urged to move

Published September 3, 2012 8:01am

Residents in exclusive communities along the West Valley Fault Line in Quezon City have been advised to move to safer ground, following last week's magnitude-7.6 earthquake in Eastern Visayas.

City public order and safety head Elmo San Diego said the potentially affected areas include 700 houses both in depressed areas and in posh subdivisions, radio dzBB's Allan Gatus reported.

San Diego was quoted in the report as saying that some of the subdivisions that may be lying along the fault line include White Plains, Green Meadows, and Blue Ridge. Many prominent political and business personalities live in these posh subdivisions: the late former President Cory Aquino herself used to live with one of her daughters in Green Meadows. (See related story here.) 'It can move anytime'

According to Perla delos Reyes, geologist and supervising science research specialist at Phivolcs, a major earthquake for Manila is long overdue.

She pointed out that a typical fault line experiences a major quake around once every 200 to 400 years. And since it has been approximately 200 years since the last major movement of the QC Fault, she said, "It can move anytime."

The blue line above approximates the Marikina Fault, based on Phivolcs data. Click on the + and - symbols on the upper left to zoom in. Press and hold your left mouse button to move around. Or click here to view a larger version. This map is for informational purposes only. To view the original Phivolcs map, click here.

San Diego added that while it may be relatively easy to find relocation sites for the informal settlers, it will be hard to convince residents in subdivisions to move.

The report quoted San Diego as saying they are considering having residents of subdivisions sign waivers to absolve government from liability if they do not move to safer ground and a quake hits. Potential for heavy damage "Malaki talaga ang potential na mag-cause (ang QC fault line) ng malaking damage," said Narod Eco of the National Institute for Geological Sciences-UP Diliman. He also underscored the need for disaster preparedness for people living in proximity to the fault.

Public awareness of the possible dangers of a powerful quake was triggered last weekend after a magnitude-7.6 quake hit Eastern Visayas and nearby areas. Authorities have long been warning that Metro Manila is overdue for a big one.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology head Renato Solidum Jr. had said in an earlier interview on dzBB radio that residents should always be alert and make repairs to their homes and draw up contingency plans with their families. –KG/TJD/HS, GMA News

Tags: westvalleyfault, earthquake, visayasearthquake, samarearthquake