Duck, cover, hold

On Friday, March 28, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Mandalay, Myanmar. It was about as powerful as the earthquake that struck Luzon in July 1990. For those who experienced that earthquake, you know how powerful it was. The quake caused widespread damage in Myanmar. The death toll is now at 1,600 with hundreds injured, but many more are still missing. According to authorities, the death toll is sure to rise. Because of this catastrophic event, a temporary ceasefire is in place. The country has been in a civil war since 2021.

The earthquake was so strong that it was felt in faraway Bangkok, Thailand. According to experts, the low frequency of the earthquake waves caused it to resonate with tall buildings and to be felt even in distant areas. Unfortunately, a building under construction completely collapsed when the tremors reached Bangkok. Eleven people have been confirmed dead, 32 injured, and 83 are still missing. The actual collapse of the building was captured on video and widely shared on social media. It is hard to imagine that if you are a construction worker, you would survive such a collapse. However, the search continues for those who may be trapped underneath the debris.

We are defenseless against earthquakes. You never know when they will happen and how strong they will be. There are ways to read the movement of fault lines, but the actual occurrence of an earthquake is unpredictable. Unlike a typhoon, you can prepare for. What you can practice is the right action when an earthquake starts. If you are outside, find an open area away from trees and power lines. If you are indoors, do the “duck, cover, hold” method. Drop to the floor, take shelter under a sturdy table, and hold on until the shaking stops. Local governments conduct earthquake drills regularly. I suggest these drills be taken seriously.

The Philippines is no stranger to earthquakes. We are in that part of the world where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common. It is called the Ring of Fire. This would include all the land masses around the Pacific Ocean. A good map will illustrate the area well. It would be wise to be prepared for such emergencies. Even if the epicenter of an earthquake is far away, you should be prepared. Just think about the distance between Mandalay, Myanmar, and Bangkok, Thailand. That’s a distance of 600 kilometers.