The Phivolcs at Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) ay muling magsasagawa ng pag-aaral sa posibleng epekto ng isang magnitude 7.2 na lindol sa Metro Manila. Ayon kay Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol, sisimulan ito sa 2026 at matatapos sa loob ng dalawang taon.
In 2004, it was estimated that up to 33,500 people could die and 113,600 people could be injured if a major earthquake were to hit Metro Manila, which at the time had a 9.9 million population. If neighboring provinces are included, the death toll could reach 48,000. Today, the population is larger and there are more buildings, so a new assessment is needed.
Bacolcol also explained that strong earthquakes could potentially cause the eruption of Taal Volcano, like what happened in 2020. According to the DOST, it is important to follow the building code and use the right materials so that buildings do not collapse easily in strong earthquakes.
At the same time, Phivolcs announced the identification of the Bogo Bay Fault that caused the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu last September. As a result, Phivolcs will be further intensified in its modernization with ₱7 billion in funding over five years to improve equipment, monitoring, and public education.
For those who want to know the strength of their house, there is a free app “How Safe Is My House?” where 12 simple questions about the materials and condition of the house will be answered. It is hoped that this will help families and local governments to be prepared for possible strong earthquakes.
