Philippines urged to be earthquake-ready

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government must strictly implement preparedness measures to prevent a high earthquake death toll, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

“The preparations for earthquakes, the strong and potentially deadly tremblers, must go beyond the usual ‘Duck, Cover and Hold’ drills,” OCD administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said in a statement on Tuesday.

“We need engineering solutions, consistent adherence to the provisions of the National Building Code and the strict prohibition on construction in areas that are vulnerable to landslides are crucial if we are to prevent the loss of thousands of lives when ground-shaking incidents occur in major cities,” he suggested.

Around 30,000 to 50,000 casualties and more than 100,000 seriously injured are projected if movement in the West Valley Fault System causes a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Greater Metro Manila area, based on the 2014 study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Nepomuceno cited Taiwan’s improved preparedness measures and interventions for earthquake-resistant buildings, which prevented a high death toll after an earthquake struck Taiwan recently.