Calamity-ravaged Aurora holds tsunami drill

BALER, Aurora —Residents of this calamity-ravaged town, which was hit by a tsunami that wiped out 500 families in 1735, successfully held a tsunami drill last week and passed the test with "flying colors" based on assessments made by the Officer of Civil Defense (OCD).

Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo told The STAR that around 1,500 local folks, including children took part in the drill, which was marked by the sounding of alarm bells at 3 a.m. Saturday in Sitio Castillo, Barangays Sabang and Zabali where victims of the 1735 tsunami used to live.

Angara-Castillo said that before holding the tsunami drill, she presided over a meeting of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) to make the province fully prepared for calamities.

During the actual drill, local folks took with them basic kitchenware and clothes and headed towards Ermita Hill, located some 100 meters away.

The Dec. 27, 1735 incident, dubbed "Tromba Marina," washed away Kinagunasan, an old barangay in this town where only five families survived, including the Angaras.

According to Neri Amparo, OCD regional director, the drill also helped various agencies to test the communication system linked to the Pacific Tsunami Warning System in Hawaii, to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the OCD, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and its regional and provincial councils.

Angara-Castillo said the province’s state of calamity preparedness is such that they have already installed 15 rain gauges to determine in advance where the water will go.

"We are now in the process of upgrading our radar system for an updated, accurate and timely warning about any incoming typhoon in Aurora," she said.

The PDCC has also identified danger zones in the eight towns, particularly those located near riverbanks and oceans and has pre-positioned boats and radio communications equipment when the need arises.

Aside from this, Angara-Castillo said they have also designated school and government buildings as evacuation centers.