THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) denied circulating rumors that the so-called “Big One” earthquake would hit the country today, October 13.
In a Facebook post, Phivolcs clarified that it did not issue any advisory about a supposed massive quake. “Walang inilalabas na abiso ang DOST-PHIVOLCS kaugnay sa umano’y pagtama ng BIG ONE ngayong araw,” the agency said, adding that it is not their mandate to announce class or work suspensions.
Phivolcs also reminded the public that there is still no existing technology capable of predicting when or where a strong earthquake will occur. “Huwag basta maniniwala! Alamin ang tamang impormasyon mula sa official website at social media accounts ng DOST-PHIVOLCS,” it warned.
The “Big One” refers to a potential magnitude 7.2 earthquake that could strike if the 100-kilometer West Valley Fault in Metro Manila moves.
Based on the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS), such an event could cause massive destruction, including the collapse of hundreds of buildings, fires, power and water outages, and up to 35,000 deaths.
