Laoag City – Disaster risk reduction and management officials in various local government units in Ilocos Region have intensified their preparedness following a series of earthquakes offshore in Ilocos Sur.
From December 17 to 22, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded at least 10 earthquakes, with magnitudes ranging from 3.0 to 5.3, about 100 kilometers northwest of Santa Catalina in Ilocos Sur.
The tremors are linked to movements along the Manila Trench, a known seismic hazard, according to Angelito Lanuza, science research specialist of the Phivolcs during a Zoom press conference facilitated by the Philippine Information Agency in the region on Monday.
Phivolcs highlighted areas at risk, predicting possible tsunami run-up heights in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur: 14.7 meters; San Fernando City, La Union: 11 meters; Bolinao, Pangasinan: 11.6 meters; Laoag City, Ilocos Norte: 10 meters; Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte: 7.6 meters.
“The threat (tsunami) is there. It’s real but do not panic. Let us consider this to finalize our preparedness and evacuation plans,” Lanuza said.
Marcell Tabije, provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer of Ilocos Norte told the Philippine News Agency that existing evacuation plans in the coastal areas of the province have been revisited to ensure the safety of communities in case of a stronger quake that may trigger a tsunami.
“We have informed all our towns through their Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers, especially the coastal areas, to inform their coastal and inland barangays (villages) to undertake preparedness actions,” he said after attending a pre-disaster risk assessment meeting with the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 1 on Sunday.
In Sta. Catalina, Ilocos Sur, members of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council have also convened for earthquake and tsunami preparedness measures and response strategies.
The importance of an early warning system, community awareness, regular conduct of drills, inventory and prepositioning of equipment, revisiting of evacuation plans and contingency plans were discussed.
OCD Ilocos Regional Director Laurence Mina, in the virtual forum, said preparedness is the key to ensuring community safety.
“There are 21 evacuation centers in Region 1 that can withstand 8.0 magnitude earthquake,” Mina said, as he urged all concerned authorities to revisit their action plans and do something to manage risks. (Leilanie Adriano)
(Source: Philippine News Agency)