Phivolcs foresees lesser aftershocks

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

GEOLOGIST Maria Isabel Abigania informed Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo that aftershocks will be fewer in number and lesser in force than the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck the northern part of region on February 6, 2012.

Abigania is with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Quick Response Team (QRT).

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The Phivolcs QRT team during the exit conference on February, 18, 2012 informed the governor of the preliminary results of their assessment and evaluation of the recent earthquake.

She added that the province will still be experiencing aftershocks for up to a month or so, though the intensity will be lesser and number will be fewer as the rock materials, where the fault was, are still shifting or moving until it fits back.

Degamo expressed relief upon hearing the report and encouraged residents of affected local government units (LGUs) to go back to their respective homes as they might catch diseases after prolonged stay inside temporary shelters.
He added that the Provincial Government will continue to provide necessary assistance to earthquake victims so they could start rebuilding their lives.
Based on the assessment, several structural, non-structural damages and major landslides in Solonggon, La Libertad and Planas, Guihulngan City as well as several minor landslides were seen in the affected areas.

A minor tsunami with a 5-meter height and 30-meter inundation also hit the coasts near the epicenter which was in Tayasan, Negros Oriental.

Liquefactions were also noted such as lateral spreading of the ground in several areas, the appearance of sand boils in Ayungon, ground settling in Jimalalud and ground deformation in Guihulngan City.

Moreover, they found tension cracks on several mountains in the affected areas and had cautioned residents thereof to relocate since the cracks might progress into landslides after continuous rains or a strong ground shaking.

Among their recommendations were for all LGUs to conduct earthquake/tsunami awareness drills, the mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into local development planning process, and the inventory and inspection of structures/infrastructures for safety measures.(PR)