The Philippine business community was shocked to learn about the devastation brought about by the Japanese earthquake and tsunamis that destroyed most of the Honshu coast. Not a few wondered if the country is prepared to mitigate the impact of an earthquake with almost the same intensity in Metro Manila.
According to Emmanuel de Guzman, advisor for Asia Pacific of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, "The big earthquake is certainly coming. The question is when. No one can tell. It can happen today, tomorrow, or next year. But certainly there will be an earthquake."
Philippines has been struck by several earthquakes in the past, including the Ragay Gulf earthquake of 17 March 1973, magnitude 7; Mindoro earthquake of November 1994, magnitude 7.1; Panay earthquake of 14 June 1990, magnitude 7.1; Casiguran earthquake of August 2002, magnitude 7.3; Moro Gulf earthquake of 17 August 1976, magnitude 7.9; and Luzon earthquake of 16 July 1990, magnitude 7.9.
The Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study, undertaken by the Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative, reported that even a 7.2 magnitude earthquake could kill up to 33,000 people and injure 114,000 others if no adequate preparations were made. The study conducted from 2002 to 2004 also estimated that the earthquake could destroy 175,000 of the more than 1.3 million buildings in Metro Manila, cause 500 simultaneous fires, and force three million residents to flee.
In a 2008 interview, Director Renato Solidum Jr. of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said structures, especially residential and medium-size buildings, should be repaired and reinforced to prevent such a scenario.
Solidum said these types of structures were perceived to be less strongly built than high-rise buildings.
According to Emmanuel de Guzman, advisor for Asia Pacific of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, "The big earthquake is certainly coming. The question is when. No one can tell. It can happen today, tomorrow, or next year. But certainly there will be an earthquake."
Philippines has been struck by several earthquakes in the past, including the Ragay Gulf earthquake of 17 March 1973, magnitude 7; Mindoro earthquake of November 1994, magnitude 7.1; Panay earthquake of 14 June 1990, magnitude 7.1; Casiguran earthquake of August 2002, magnitude 7.3; Moro Gulf earthquake of 17 August 1976, magnitude 7.9; and Luzon earthquake of 16 July 1990, magnitude 7.9.
The Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study, undertaken by the Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative, reported that even a 7.2 magnitude earthquake could kill up to 33,000 people and injure 114,000 others if no adequate preparations were made. The study conducted from 2002 to 2004 also estimated that the earthquake could destroy 175,000 of the more than 1.3 million buildings in Metro Manila, cause 500 simultaneous fires, and force three million residents to flee.
In a 2008 interview, Director Renato Solidum Jr. of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said structures, especially residential and medium-size buildings, should be repaired and reinforced to prevent such a scenario.
Solidum said these types of structures were perceived to be less strongly built than high-rise buildings.
Sadly, the Philippines is never prepared for such an eventuality. If a big earthquake will occur near Metro Manila, the whole place would be tremendously devastated as we are never strict in the implementation of our building codes and laws. Pinoys are prone to have a lazy attitude when it comes to preparedness.
I totally agree with Tom.
I'm very intrigued and scared about this. Could I repost it on my blog adding your site as the source?
How prepared a nation is could never take the full impact of the disaster. So sad to see this happen.