To test their readiness for the “Big One,” soldiers from the
Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division as well as civilian employees
on Thursday took part in the earthquake drill inside the sprawling military
camp here.
Maj. Gen. Angelito de Leon, 7th ID commanding general, said
that the quake drill was meant to increase awareness and preparedness in case a
7.2-magnitude earthquake hits Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.
“Our drills were meant to test, assess, validate and
evaluate the national disaster response plans for earthquake and tsunami, and
other emergency related plans,” de Leon said as he pointed out that the drill
is in support to the contingency plan “Tulong-Pagyanig” of the Northern Luzon
Command (Nolcom).
Ambulances with medics, KM451 Army trucks, power generators
and helmet-wearing troops were present for the drills.
Simulating an earthquake scenario, soldiers who found
“victims” checked them for injuries, put them in stretchers and brought by
ambulance to the Fort Magsaysay Army Station Hospital (FMASH) where a medical
team is on standby.
The drill came on the heels of earthquakes which rocked Japan and Ecuador
The Philippines
is no stranger to quakes as it often experienced ground movements through the
West Valley Fault (WVF) and being located in the “Pacific Ring of Fire” where a
string of volcanoes and seismic activities occur regularly in the edges of the Pacific Ocean .
Seismologists have made statistical estimates of probable
ground movements that can be used to plan for earthquakes and mitigate their
effects.
But some scientists claim that studies of ground movement
strongly suggest major earthquakes will start occurring this year, which has
put nations into panic.
Experts say the WVF is ripe for another movement based on
its pattern every 600 years.
Col. Alfredo V Rosario, Jr., 7th ID chief of staff, said
this is the reason communities should always be vigilant.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
(Phivolcs), said should the “Big One” strike at night, it could kill 31,000
people and injure 130,000 people in the National Capital Region (NCR) . (PNA)
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