Earthquake in northern part of the Philippines was shaken with a 5.6 magnitude tremor which unleashed ripples in many areas. At dawn, the tremble has raised concern about its aftershocks and the rubbles of the structures. The authorities ae appreciating the residents and encouraging them to be on the alert even if no deaths or injuries have been registered thus far.
The occurrence, its effect and the gradual response time follows up in summary form with the following particulars:
Earthquake Reported As An Event
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology registered earthquake event at 5.6 magnitude on the richter scale. With the following particulars, the seismic activity focused on the northern part of the archipelago here in the Philippines:
Earthquake geocentric time was reported at 2:34 am last night.
Epicenter: This earthquake occurred at the latitude of 15 degrees north and a longitude of 121 degrees east, located 15 kilometers northwest from the town of Claveria in Cagayan province.
Depth: The earthquake is said to be shallow with a depth of about ten kilometers from the surface.
The shaking was only weak; intensity IV was registered at areas closer to the epicenter while Intensity III was registered at farther areas including Ilocos Norte and Abra provinces.
Direct Effect:
Affected Domains:
Several provinces, among them these provinces, experienced an earthquake: Moderate seismic events were felt in Cagayan Province. This tremor heralded the People of Cagayan Province.
Ilocos Norte: Although no initial report of damage was given straight away, the tremors were certainly strong enough to be felt.
Abra: Residents reported feeling minor tremors, some went out of their houses as a safety measure. The preliminary investigations revealed, some damage to the roads and structures with some cracks but no major structural damage is seen as yet.
Utility companies undertook some safety measures resulting in temporary power outages in some parts of the Cagayan.
Response of the Officials
PHIVOLCS Statement
As a result of the local tectonic fault shifts PHIVOLCS have attributed this quake to tectonic activity. The body has warned of possible aftershocks but dampened concerns of a tsunami due to the earthquake being land locked.
Emergency Relief Services
Local government units (LGUs) of the disaster affected states have activated their disaster response teams to assess the situation and assist the locals.
To ensure the safety of the public and, if necessary, oversee the distribution of aid, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has circulated a number of warnings before the event occurred.
Public Reaction and Get Ready
The comment trends from the residents’ in the affected areas of the earthquake was one of worry but not anxiety. During the shocks, a normal safety practice in earthquake prone areas, a large number of individuals evacuated their homes.
Safety drills and readiness measures: A regular series of earthquake drills in workplaces and schools has improved the awareness of safety measures.
Some towns have also created distraction spaces in case of emergencies such as quakes.
Geological setting: Earthquakes: The Philippines Being part of the Pacific Ring of Fire makes Philippines seismically active and often experiencing volcanic eruptions. Despite the presence of 20 earthquakes on average each day, most are too weak to be felt
Northern Philippines’ Tectonic Activity
The reasons of the origin earthquakes that occurred in Philippines islands are generally attributed to the activity of Philippine Fault Zone.
Cagayan Valley which has been the center of several moderate to high magnitude earthquakes in past, needs regular monitoring.
Expected Aftershocks
According to authorities, PHIVOLCS aftershocks are expected to occur in the coming days. These are the recommended measures to residents in the affected areas:
Until Local authorities have proclaimed the building to be safe for occupation, do not enter any buildings in the affected areas where damage has been done to the structure.
In case of an emergency always keep first aid kits, food, water and other items in rapid response packs. Stay abreast of developments through the official channels and adhere to the issued instructions and procedures.
Worldwide and Local Reactions
The earthquake caught the attention of its neighbors and the international seismic monitoring community including the USGS which corroborated PHIVOLCS’s data about earthquakes.
In the country, many people who experienced the earthquakes in the Philippines took to social networking sites to record their experience.
Many did express their gratitude for avoiding any severe injuries or destructions.
Conclusion
The earthquake measuring 5.6 magnitude caused in the region, the weakness of the Philippines against natural calamities is brought into focus. While the current impact seems to be negligible, as time progresses, step by step assessments will enable one to determine where the subsequent impact lies and whether more action should be taken or not.
While emphasizing safety and risk reduction, the authorities are asking the public to be vigilant, prepared, and cooperative. The episode demonstrates, once again, the importance of perennial investments in the reconstruction of Philippine infrastructure and preparedness for disaster.
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