24 October 2013
The magnitude 7.2 earthquake
that devastated Bohol (and also affected Cebu, Negros, Syquijor and parts of Mindanao)
about a week ago turned out to be caused by the vertical movement of an unknown
fault system – to as much as 3 meters in some parts - which has finally been
pinpointed in Barangay Anunang, Inabanga, northeast of Tagbilaran, after 7 days
of searching by Phivolcs personnel.
Prior to the October 15
earthquake, it seems that (based on available records) Bohol was also hit last
year (December 19, 2012) by a 4.6 magnitude earthquake that had its epicenter in
the island itself. This is about 54 kilometers east of Tagbilaran, around the
vicinity of the town of Jagna which is practically located in the opposite side
of the island, about 50 kilometers away, with respect to Inabanga.
So far, according to
reports, the volcanologists have already surveyed about 5 kilometers of the
fault – and are continuing to trace its extent - and they say that faults like
these can run up to hundreds of kilometers.
So, I won’t be surprised if they’ll eventually find out that the Jagna
epicenter Is connected to the Inabanga fault.
A number of sinkholes in
different parts of the Bohol also were discovered after the earthquake. This
was explained by state geologists as something that can happen because
underneath a big part of the island is limestone which can easily be eroded by
underground water flow. Over a long period, water would carve out a big portion
of this limestone deposit creating an underground void which, during a strong
earthquake would cause the ground on top to cave in, creating the sink hole.
So far more than 2,000
aftershocks have been recorded, with some hitting magnitudes of as much as 4.5
to 5. This prevents Boholanos from returning to their abodes (for safety
reasons) and as a result, hundreds of thousands of persons are forced to live
temporarily in tents.
The government, as well as
the citizenry responded fast in providing rescue and material aid to the
victims, particularly in Bohol, but the effectiveness of distribution is
hampered by the extensive damage also to road systems, as well as landslides
which isolated Barangays, especially those that are in the remote mountain
areas. The armed forces of the Philippines have resorted to using helicopters
already to reach, and deliver aid to, the isolated barangays, but TV footages show that the victims,
particularly children, out of desperation, resort – as of the seventh day - to
waiting by the roadside with signs asking for food (or help) from vehicles that
pass by. In the fishing villages, the fishermen are scared to go out fishing,
especially in the evening, for fear of the rather strong aftershocks.
Because of the logistical
difficulty that we have encountered, it just crossed my mind that the country
misses the support that the USA can give during natural disasters, like when they
provided helicopters, in the past, to facilitate the delivery of aid to disaster
victims. Their absence this time is understandable though, since they are still
reeling from the recent government shutdown that they had. Their absence, to
me, however, just emphasizes their being our true friends, because no other
country (as far as I perceive, and in the absence of the US) have pitched in to
assist us in the manner that the US can, and have done.
It is also so revolting that
“epal” politicians don’t even have the decency to refrain from campaigning, in
deference to the grave conditions brought about by the disaster, and still pursue
their ends callously by providing aid in bags brandishing their name. So
disappointing also is the reported hoarding of aid materials by some
politicians, as well as fights over “turf” (as in who is authorized to
distribute) at the expense of the disaster victims.
As of the writing of this
article, I’ve read of reports that all roads are already passable and that all
Bohol towns are already accessible and connected. This will make faster the
delivery of aid to victims. But one shining act in all of this misfortune is
the gesture of the President in immediately and personally going to Bohol to
show his sympathy and concern for the citizens there. Reports from the ground
there say that the gesture is well appreciated by the victims, and raised their
spirits. Some even said that they consider his presence even more valuable than
the material aid that they are receiving.
Earlier today, the President, just back from a
state visit in South Korea, is once again back in Bohol to see to make sure
that the flow of aid to the province is flowing smoothly, and he reportedly intends
to sleep also in a tent as a gesture of “pakikipagisa”
with the hundreds of thousands of still displaced victims of the disaster.
The 7.2 magnitude earthquake
is a very sad and very unfortunate incident because of the loss of lives,
property and the massive damage to our historical legacy. But there is a very important
value that this disaster may have served. And this is that it could be used as
the model in preparing for the “big earthquake” that is just waiting to happen
in Metro Manila on account of the Marikina Valley Fault System that experts say
could trigger a “large scale earthquake with a magnitude of 7 or higher.”
When this happens, it is
predicted that the death toll will be as high as 35,000, about 120,000 or more
injured, and about 3 million persons needed to be evacuated.
The Bohol 7.2 magnitude
earthquake, more than ever, emphasizes the reality of the Marikina Valley Fault
threat. Since Bohol provides us now with more or less the needed empirical
information, maybe the state can make use of these data to prepare and
implement programs that would mitigate damage, injuries, and loss of lives that
an earlier study projected (and that I believe was based on theoretical
inputs).
Comments/reactions will be appreciated and can be sent through
this writer’s email (sl3.mekaniko @gmail.com) or this
writer’s blog (http://mekaniko-sl3.blogspot.com).
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