The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Sultan Kudarat said the province remains on alert despite the absence of a tsunami threat, citing the frequent and moderately strong earthquakes it described as “very unusual.”
Lovely Joy Hallegado, chief of the Sultan Kudarat PDRRMO, noted that the province marks the 50th year since the devastating Moro Gulf earthquake on August 17, 1976, which claimed more than 5,000 lives.
Currently, more than 12,000 families in the coastal municipalities of Sultan Kudarat are staying in evacuation centers, open spaces, and high ground after a series of moderately strong earthquakes in the province over the past two weeks.
The municipalities of Palimbang, Lebak, and Kalamansig experienced the strongest shaking and are now under close monitoring by the provincial government, as these areas are located along the coast.
“This is very unusual since, ‘di ba nga po, 1976 pa ‘yung tsunami, and after that, hindi pa ‘to nangyari na ganito, sunod-sunod na may earthquake ((This is very unusual because there was a tsunami in 1976 and this has not happened since—this series of earthquakes). Very, very unusual,” she told ABS-CBN News on Thursday.
The Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) earlier advised residents in coastal areas to remain alert, while those in affected areas were urged to follow the “duck, cover, and hold” protocol during strong tremors and comply with authorities in case evacuations are ordered.
Hallegado said residents are already more vigilant and are prepared to evacuate whenever they feel strong shaking.
She added that many residents have opted to stay in open areas such as plazas or in elevated locations, where they have set up tents. Local government units continue to monitor the situation and address the needs of evacuees.
“Wala na pong ifo-force or kailangan talaga silang pagsabihan na kailangan na nilang lumikas. Wala pong ganoon. They, themselves, alam na po nila, na ‘pag may shaking na po, sila na po mismo ang pumupunta sa evacuation centers,” she said.
(We do not have to force them or remind them when to evacuate. They themselves know that once there is shaking, they should go to evacuation centers.)
The PDRRMO also reported that the provincial government has started distributing food assistance, with additional supplies already on standby.
Hallegado said the provincial government will also put up a mobile kitchen by Friday night and will send a mobile hospital to check on people at evacuation centers.
As of Friday morning, January 30, Phivolcs said it has recorded a total of 2,640 earthquakes in offshore Sultan Kudarat since January 19. Out of the total tremors, at least 91 were felt, ranging from magnitudes 1.3 to 5.9.
Phivolcs said the ongoing earthquake swarm was triggered by the movement of the Cotabato Trench.
Dr. Teresita Bacolcol, the Phivolcs director, said this phenomenon “may or may not lead to a larger event” as “earthquake swarms do not automatically mean that a stronger earthquake would follow.”
