PHIVOLCS dismisses claims on alleged submarine volcano waking up as false

The claims on a supposed submarine volcano allegedly waking amid the series of strong earthquakes in the country were false, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said Monday.

“Kapag mga ganito po, huwag po kayo maniwala. Wala po tayong record na nagkaroon ng paggising ng anumang submarine volcano na tinutukoy dito. Hindi po ito totoo,” PHIVOLCS chief Dr. Teresito Bacolcol told Unang Hirit in an interview.

(Don't believe things like this. We have no record of any submarine volcano waking up. It is not true.)

He warned the public against fake news especially during disasters. He advised them to only check updates from the PHIVOLCS, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, as well as their local governments.

“Kapag may mga ganitong sakuna, mga disasters, biglang nagiging eksperto lahat. So, kailangan natin i-filter out kung ano 'yung fake news, kung ano 'yung totoo,” he said.

(When there are disasters like this, suddenly everyone becomes an expert. So, we need to filter out what is fake news from what is true.)

“So makinig lang sa aming ahensya, at pati na rin sa NDRRMC, sa kanilang LGUs kasi marami pong mga fake news na kumakalat ngayon,” he added.

(So just listen to our agency, and also to the NDRRMC, and their LGUs because there is a lot of fake news circulating now.)

A series of earthquakes recently hit different parts of the country. The strongest earthquakes among the recent seismic events are the following:

• Bogo City, Cebu - magnitude 6.9 on September 30
• Manay, Davao Oriental - magnitude 7.4 and 6.8 on October 10 (doublet)
• Cagwait, Surigao del Sur - magnitude 6.0 on October 11

Fatalities in Cebu earthquake reached 75, while the death toll in Davao earthquake is now eight. —AOL, GMA Integrated News