EDITORIAL — Shaken

The other night nature reminded us that typhoons and monsoons aren’t the only natural disasters we should be worried about.

A 6.9-magnitude earthquake with the epicenter located northeast of Bogo City, Cebu, struck at 9:59 P.M. just as people were getting ready for bed.

As of this writing, final reports have yet to come in, but it’s safe to say damage was widespread in Bogo City, Cebu City, and across several towns. As of this writing over 60 people have been confirmed dead.

Now the entire Cebu Province is readying itself for aftershocks, which are common after strong quakes.

Thankfully, as of this writing no destructive aftershocks have taken place, but what happened was a wave of misinformation and fake news.

Even just minutes following the quake, irresponsible netizens either manufactured or helped spread fake news and photos.

Fake news predicted the specific time of preceding aftershocks, precise to the hour, causing unnecessary alarm. Some doomsayers also brought up history of a similar quake 103 years ago in February 28, 1922 that destroyed the Bishop's Palace, the Convent of the Recollects, and the Protestant Episcopal Church.

While that incident did happen and was mentioned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the most destructive in Cebu since the country was colonized, there is no need to link it doomsday scenarios.

With regards to fake photos, there circulated a purported photo of damage at the tunnel leading to the South Road Properties, but this turned out to be an old photo.

There was also a photo of water allegedly receding from the sea near the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, something that usually happens before tsunamis, although the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office was quick to flag it as false news.

Readers ought to know that tsunamis only occur in vast amounts of water and open sea. The seas around our archipelago don’t have enough space to generate a tsunami, unless a city-sized meteor was to fall directly into the sea.

Many of us are already shaken, and causing unnecessary alarm and panic doesn’t help our frayed nerves any.

While this is time to pray, help others, and be prepared for aftershocks, this isn’t a time to spread fear or fake news.