Metro Manila, Philippines – The 7.4 magnitude quake in Davao Oriental is not connected to the deadly tremor in Cebu, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
In a press briefing on Friday, Oct. 10, Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said there is no pattern of strong earthquakes, noting that the tremors are all normal activities.
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Central Visayas on Sept. 30, leaving over 70 people dead.
“The Philippines is very much active tectonically. We have more than 180 fault segments. We also have six trenches and there’s always a possibility na magkakaroon ng paglindol sunud sunod (that there may be consecutive tremors),” Bacolcol said in a press briefing, noting that in fact, an average of 30 earthquakes occur daily.He added that the activities from the Bogo Bay fault – which generated tremors in Cebu, are independent from the Philippine Trench that triggered the shaking in Davao Oriental. “Independent po sila, magkakalayo. And yung activity ng isa will not trigger or not induce the activity of the other one,” said Bacolcol.[Translation: They are independent and away from each other. The activity of one fault will not trigger or induce the activity of the other one.]Phivolcs said the Davao tremor has no connection as well to the recent 4.4 magnitude quake in La Union.Based on Phivolcs’ records, a number of powerful earthquakes have been recorded near the quake’s epicenter in Manay, Davao Oriental – the most recent was the 7.1 magnitude tremor in 1992.
Preparedness for the ‘Big One’
With people becoming worried about the “Big One” or the potential destructive earthquake in Metro Manila, Bacolcol said the country must plan ahead, as science says these tremors could happen anytime.He said historically, the source of the ‘Big One’ quake, the West Valley Fault, has major movements every 400 to 600 years – with the last recorded in 1658.“Of course, it will not happen by 2058…it could be earlier or it could be later…we have to assume that it will happen,” stressing the need to prepare for the major tremor. Bacolcol said one way to brace for the destructive shaking is to build structures that follow proper engineering standards.
