It is only apt that Filipinos, wherever they are in the country, be reminded not to succumb to panic and even fake information—given the series of earthquakes that rumbled underneath in the past week.
The first to usher in the tectonic movement of the earth’s crust on Monday was a magnitude 6.1 tremor that struck Castillejos in Zambales, which left a swath of at least 18 dead, 282 injuries and destruction of property.
Twenty-one hours later, a magnitude 6.5 shock rocked the coastal town of San Julian in Eastern Samar on the western edge of the vast Pacific, which triggered tsunami disquiet.
And while the country, well within the Pacific Ring of Fire—where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur—continues to experience aftershocks, other quakes of lesser magnitude have jabbed Surigao del Norte and San Nicolas in Ilocos Norte and another in Leyte two days ago.
The nervousness challenging the population has gone some notches higher, with authorities urging the people, particularly in the National Capital Region, to be ready in the event the feared “Big One”—a magnitude 7.2 earthquake from the West Valley Fault, which could result in the collapse of 170,000 residential houses and the death of 40,000 people.
Authorities say the movement would start along the fault, several kilometers below the ground, and would move horizontally and would cause vibration.
It is in this light that the people, whether they are near the West Valley Fault or far from it, must immediately prepare themselves, the continuing earthquake drills in the metropolis notwithstanding, and should stand their ground and not succumb to panic.
Alongside this single-mindedness, they should be on their guard against fake information, which can be plenty online.
While we urge local authorities to post in their easily read respective bulletin boards in public places tips on what to do when an earthquake shakes the ground and the shorelines, we also call on the people to read the counsel of the experts to minimize, if not avoid, death and destruction.
In these times, such counsel should not be disregarded.
