Brace for More Aftershocks – Philvocs Director

Department of Science and Technology Undersecretary and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) Director Renato Solidum said Monday that residents in Leyte province should expect more aftershocks following the 6.4 magnitude earthquake in July 6.

As of 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, a total of 600 aftershocks were recorded by Philvocs, 70 of which were plotted aftershocks with only 13 were felt.

The aftershock magnitudes range from 1.5 to 4.3. The aftershock that hit Ormoc Monday morning and felt in other parts of Leyte Island was the strongest with 5.8 magnitude.

“We are expecting aftershocks in the coming days, this will not stop and time to time aftershock will be felt in this area,” said Solidum.

To ensure safety of people in affected areas of the magnitude 6.4 earthquake, Solidum said that the local government unit (LGU) concern must not allow the residents to go back to their old houses when they see that it was totally damaged.

Solidum stressed that the LGU must strictly implement the Building Code of the Philippines and ensure that building permit applicants would follow the specification of the building to ensure safety of their people.

Solidum added that for LGU with areas identified as danger zones such as areas within fault line and landslide prone areas must relocate their residents in safer areas.

Tongonan village in Ormoc and Lim-ao village in Kananga are some of the identified areas located along the fault line and are prone to landslides thus needed to be relocated.

In Lim-ao village alone 73 families are in need to be relocated after most of the houses was damaged by the July 6 tremor.

Other areas considered in danger zones are the villages of Kabanao-an, Milagro, Lake Danao, Gaas and Liberty in Ormoc City and Rizal in Kananga town.

Solidum also noted that after the magnitude 5.8 earthquake on Monday morning, most people rushed out of the city hall of Ormoc while the ground was shaking.

“We have to emphasize that the right way of coming out of the building is when the strong quake had stop. Injuries happened when people are panicking and running while the ground is shaking that is why you must always remember, to first ‘Drop, then Hold and Cover’ and wait for the earthquake to stop before going out of the building,” Solidum said. (PNA/Roel T. Amazona)