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Thursday, May 15, 2008
Text hoax on earthquake stirs panic
MANILA -- The magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck China and the temblors that hit Northern Luzon had sparked a hoax about a possible magnitude 6.8 quake that would strike the Philippines late Wednesday night.
An international geologic center reportedly issued the advisory and quickly circulated in the Philippines, causing panic.
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The text message reads: "US Geological Society predicts a 6.8 magnitude earthquake will hit Philippines Plates tonight. Please be calm and alert. This text message is from Hawaii state emergency preparedness office. Pls pass (no harm in being prepared) let's pray this will not happen."
"It is a hoax, which started after the China quake," a statement issued by the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said, adding there is no agency named US Geological Society, but United States Geological Survey exists.
The quake in China resulted to at least 12,000 deaths and displaced thousand others.
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Renato Solidum has explained that no person or machine could predict an occurrence of an earthquake.
Robinson Horio, also an official of Phivolcs, said in a television interview Wednesday that the text message is purely a hoax even as the Philippines was hit by several earthquakes of higher magnitude before.
"No technology was developed to determine the intensity of an earthquake or which part of the world it would hit," Horio stressed.
Deputy presidential spokesman Antonio Golez, who is also deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, echoed that there is no organization capable of predicting an earthquake, which is very specific in terms of magnitude and the date.
Golez said what is important is that Filipinos will continue to be prepared and take risk reduction measures.
The NDCC said that such gimmicks often come out after a disastrous earthquake incident, which is deliberately sent to the public to spread fear.
In reality, 20 tremors occur in the country everyday, but most are too mild to generate significant surface movements or damages. The country sits on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire where seismic activities are frequent.
"The Philippines can be affected by a major earthquake, but as to when exactly this would happen, it cannot be predicted. What's important is we continue to practice earthquake preparedness and risk reduction measures," the NDCC said.
On Tuesday night, a magnitude 5.4 earthquake hit Isabela province. It was followed by 34 aftershocks, which were recorded until Wednesday morning.
The tectonic earthquake, whose epicenter was located 88 kilometers southeast of Cauayan City, happened at 10:14 p.m. Tuesday.
It was felt at Intensity 5 in Dinapigue town; Intensity 4 in Palanan and Maconacon towns and in Baler, Aurora; Intensity 2 in Baguio City; and Intensity 1 in Metro Manila.
No casualty or damage was reported although there were reports that some residents panicked when the tremor struck. (JMR/Sunnex/With PNA)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (May 15, 2008 issue)
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