EDITORIAL - Perpetual readiness

Organizers and participants proclaimed yesterday’s metro-wide earthquake drill a success. Office workers, school children and their teachers in particular have a better idea of what to do for their safety in case a powerful earthquake strikes.

Those whose homes or offices are located near the West and East Valley Faults that run across Metro Manila to parts of Laguna also benefited from the scenarios simulated yesterday. And it was a good start for disaster rescue and relief workers, firefighters, police and barangay personnel, whose efficient coordination will be crucial in case the valley faults move and trigger a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, which government seismologists have warned is imminent.

Mankind has sent a probe to Pluto, but science has not developed a foolproof way of predicting when a powerful earthquake will strike. Studies in recent years have reported that Metro Manila lacks the capability to cope with a powerful earthquake.

In the worst scenario, the studies estimate that up to 35,000 people can die from collapsed buildings and other structures, fires and transport accidents. Metro Manila’s supply lines can be cut off. Water, electricity and telecommunications services can be seriously disrupted. Hospitals can be overwhelmed.

Yesterday’s drill was carried out after state seismologists warned that the valley faults were ripe for a powerful earthquake. Although some quarters slammed the seismologists as alarmists, the warning cannot be ignored. Filipinos have seen the devastation from powerful earthquakes in densely populated areas in other countries. Even advanced economies such as Japan are never fully prepared for the extent of the destruction. Yesterday’s drill was a good start in preparedness. Many other aspects of disaster response must be fine-tuned.