Metro Manila ‘shake drill’ a success

MANILA, Philippines – The second Metro Manila “shake drill” was successful as thousands participated in earthquake simulation exercises held simultaneously in the metropolis yesterday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.

“We have exceeded last year’s number of quake drill participants owing to the participation of Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog regions, plus the pledge of shopping malls to contribute 500,000 participants. Students and motorists also joined the drill,” MMDA public information head Hope Libiran said.

At exactly 9 a.m., emergency alarms went off at the MMDA office in Makati City to signal the start of the earthquake drill.

MMDA Chairman Emerson Carlos led the agency’s officials and employees in executing the “duck, cover, hold” technique during the simulated 7.2 magnitude earthquake.

During the simulation, employees were evacuated from the MMDA office as firefighters from the Makati fire station arrived to put out a simulated fire at the building.

 Emergency responders rushed to the nearby Guadalupe Bridge to rescue people “trapped” by debris.

MMDA personnel rescued people from the Pasig River using rubber boats in simulated search and rescue operations.

Responding firemen sprayed water on a burning car on the bridge.

These scenarios were over in minutes. Those rescued were transported by ambulances to Villamor Airbase, which served as the main evacuation and treatment area for south Metro Manila.

The entire shake drill was completed in about an hour.

The rescue operations and evacuation drills were planned according to the projected impact of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hitting Metro Manila, including the collapse of the Guadalupe Bridge that would result in the separation of the south quadrant from the rest of the metropolis. The south quadrant consists of Makati, Pasay, Taguig, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Parañaque and Pateros.

2 ‘dead,’ scores ‘hurt’

Two persons “died” and 18 others were ”injured” at the Supreme Court (SC) building in Manila as the earthquake was simulated.

Over 2,000 SC officials and employees participated in the shake drill spearheaded by the MMDA and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Court officials and personnel were evacuated to the nearby Paco Park during the simulated earthquake activity.

At least 500 volunteers, led by emergency marshal Ma. Carina Cunanan, facilitated the drill.

One of the scenarios was an explosion at the SC printing press where one personnel was left “dead.”

Around 3,000 personnel of the Philippine National Police participated in the earthquake drill.

NDRRMC executive director Alexander Pama said the Department of National Defense’s Office of Civil Defense also took part in the earthquake drill.

Power was cut off during the drill, which ran for one hour.

2 women pass out

In Quezon City, two women transacting business at the Quezon City Hall passed out during the shake drill.

Elmo San Diego, head of the city’s Department of Public Order and Safety, said an elderly woman fainted as she panicked after seeing people rushing for cover following sirens from the roving fire trucks.

Another woman collapsed due to dizziness.

 “They were rushed to the nearest hospital and were in stable condition,” San Diego told reporters.

Mass evacuation drills were also held in Manila, Taguig, Malabon and Navotas.

Two persons “died” and at least 52 others were “hurt” in an earthquake scenario at the Baseco Compound in Tondo, quadrant four shake drill head Aldo Mayor said.

With Edu Punay, Robertzon Ramirez, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Rey Galupo, Jaime Laude, Ghio Ong