Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — With some 1.2 million passengers taking the LRT and MRT-3 every day, a possible major quake is a serious concern — especially with portions of the LRT-2 Santolan station on top of the West Valley Fault.
If an earthquake strikes while you’re inside a running train or standing on the platform, experts say you should drop, cover, and hold.
“[Kapag] nasa platform intact ang building no problem. [Kapag] magka-damage buildings go out kaya sa disaster plan bawat station designated evacuation center,” Hernando Cabrera, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), spokesperson said.
Once the shaking is over, passengers should calmly use the staircase and emergency exits. Once outside, commuters should proceed to an open space or the side streets near the station.
But if commuters are inside a running train when the tremor happens, they must brace for an emergency stop as the train’s power supply will be affected.
They should stay low, and hold on to handrails to avoid injuries as much as possible. If seated, passengers should stay low and protect themselves with something, like a bag.
After the tremor stops, the driver should make an initial assessment of the passengers and the tracks.
If it’s still safe to travel, the train will bring passengers to the nearest station for evacuation.
In case tracks are misaligned and the trains are stuck, the driver must tell the control center to send in rescue teams. Rescuers will bring passengers down using rappel ropes, man lifters, and fire trucks with ladders.
LRT-1 could withstand a magnitude 7.4 to 7.6 quake while LRT-2 could withstand a magnitude 8.4 quake. MRT is designed to withstand a magnitude 8 quake.
Officials have yet to check if retrofitting should be done in LRT-1, the oldest among the three elevated railways in Metro Manila.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) says another transportation infrastructure near the West Valley Fault is the Philippine National Railways (PNR).
The PNR Alabang station is between two fault segments of the West Valley Fault — approximately 160 meters east and 90 meters west of the fault line.
The closest PNR track to the fault line is in Muntinlupa which is just 16 meters away.
“Worst case madidiskaril. Dapat mayroon automatic shutdown,” Phivolcs Geology Division chief Arturo Daag said.
Operations to continue during quake drill
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) says transport agencies will join the shake drill tomorrow but MRT, LRT, and airport operations will not be affected.
Those on the road during the drill will be asked to stop for 45 seconds, once traffic enforcers signal that the drill is in full swing.
But motorists traveling along and below flyovers and in tunnels must keep driving, in order to avoid being caught or trapped in these high-risk areas.
