THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB)-Davao Region has conducted monitoring in quake-stricken areas and warned of possible rain-induced landslides with the impending low pressure area (LPA).
The rains might aggravate an already unstable slope following a series of tremors.
Based on the statement issued by DENR-Davao Region on Friday which was posted on their Facebook page, it read that MGB-Davao Regional Director Lawyer Jasper Alberto Lascano said that although MGB’s mandate is to monitor rain-induced landslides and flooding, they have also done monitoring of earthquake-hit areas as part of their disaster-response efforts through conducting landslide assessment to the affected areas.
In October, three strong quakes with magnitudes 6.3, 6.6, and 6.5 hit Mindanao with its epicenter in Tulunan, Cotabato.
Earlier, MGB issued an geohazard advisory for the LPA along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). It was estimated at 180 km East of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte based on available data.
Meanwhile, another LPA within the ITCZ was estimated at 150 km Northwest of Zamboanga City issued by PAGASA dated November 1.
Considering the onset of shower events and severe thunderstorms, landslides are likely to occur which may be aggravated by an earthquake. Thus, they advise all the LGUs and concerned agencies, as well as the public, to be alert and monitor weather disturbances.
"We are still monitoring these earthquake-hit areas as tremors may increase the likelihood of rain-induced landslides during heavy rainfalls, specifically since Pagasa has issued weather advisories for Low-Pressure Areas (LPAs) in Mindanao Region embedded in the Intertropical Convergent Zones (ITCZ)," he said.
MGB-Davao has dispatched personnel to Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, which was seriously affected by the recent earthquakes, to conduct an assessment and assist the LGUS in evaluating the evacuation and relocation sites.
Meanwhile, the statement added that the MGB-Davao’s Mine, Safety, Environment and Social Development Division has also instructed all mining companies to immediately submit assessment reports of their respective tenement areas in connection to the series of earthquakes.
"Currently, all the technical personnel from MGB-11’s Geosciences Division are in full alert and are on call 24/7. And to cater to all concerns and inquiries from the citizens, they can call the MGB-XI Operation Center at 082 224-1536," Lascano said.