Metro Manila residents must take urgent steps to prepare for a potentially catastrophic earthquake along the West Valley Fault, experts warn, stressing that individual and community-level readiness could save tens of thousands of lives.
Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum emphasized that while earthquakes cannot be prevented, their impacts can be significantly reduced through proactive measures such as retrofitting homes, adhering to building codes, and conducting regular drills.
“The seriousness of effort is needed… your family, yourselves, and the community should make sure na handa tayo parati,” Solidum said in a television interview.
“Earthquakes are not easy events to prepare for, but we can be ready by ensuring our homes, infrastructures, and public spaces like churches and malls are earthquake-resistant.”
Solidum reiterated the urgency of preparedness after the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu on Sept. 30, which left fewer than a hundred dead in Bogo City.
“Kung mangyari kunyari [ang magnitude] 6.5 na lindol sa kalagitnaan ng West Valley Fault ay tens of thousands ang ating casualty,” Solidum said, noting that the capital’s dense population and numerous high-rise buildings make it far more vulnerable.
The West Valley Fault, which runs from Quezon City to Laguna, has remained dormant for centuries but is known to produce major quakes every 200 to 400 years.
The 2004 Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS) projected devastating consequences from a magnitude 7.2 quake, including the collapse of 170,000 homes, 34,000 deaths, and fires that could kill 18,000 more.
The study also warned that Metro Manila could be divided into four isolated sectors due to collapsed structures, fires, liquefaction, and ruptured roads, which could make evacuation and rescue extremely difficult. (Ellalyn Ruiz)
