Phivolcs annoyed over irresponsible, persistent hoax quake warning

MANILA, Philippines - State seismologists are starting to feel annoyed over persistent and irresponsible circulation of text messages warning of a powerful "magnitude 6.8" earthquake "tonight." In a radio interview, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Renato Solidum Jr said Thursday the messages are crafted such that they can be sent any day. "Kung mapapansin ninyo ang text message, 'tonight.' Nagsimula yan one day after lindol sa China. Ang 'tonight' na sinasabi, noong isang araw pa (If you notice the text messages, they always say 'tonight.' But these text messages actually started last Tuesday, the day after the earthquake in China. So the 'tonight' they are actually referring to was the other night)," Solidum said in an interview on dzBB radio. The official reiterated Phivolcs' position that the text message it a hoax, since there is no way at present to predict the place and time of an earthquake. "Di namin kaya. Kahit sa US o Japan, di ginagawa yan (We don't have that capability to predict quakes. Not even the US or Japan has that capability)," he said. Solidum also noted there is no such group as the US Geological Society or Hawaii Preparedness Office, the supposed sources cited in the text messages. - GMANews.TV