The kind that sends tremors on Valentine’s Day?
Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. on Sunday debunked social media claims that recent earthquakes in the Philippines were “man-made.”
Social media users had claimed that these occurrences may be caused by the controversial High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP).
HAARP is an atmospheric research project studying the layer of the Earth’s atmosphere that affects radio signals and communication, or the ionosphere.
Solidum flatly dismissed such claims, saying that no technology exists that can cause or control earthquakes.
“We don’t have that technology yet. We cannot equalize the stress or energy that is accumulated in faults or trenches to produce a strong earthquake when it moves,” Solidum said.
He also dismissed circulating claims that the so-called “Big One” will soon hit the country, calling on the public to rely only on verified information.
Solidum explained that while the country experiences around 30 to 50 earthquakes daily, with most of them small and unfelt, there is no scientific method to predict exactly when a strong quake will happen.
He noted that the recent series of strong quakes isn’t new, though better monitoring tools now allow scientists to detect and report them more quickly across the archipelago.
‘Doublet’
Solidum encouraged the public to visit the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) website and social media pages for verified advisories, and to review the “What to Do Before, During, and After an Earthquake” guide on the DoST-Phivolcs site.
His other advice: Secure heavy furniture, follow the National Building Code, and don’t skip those earthquake drills.
On 30 September, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit Bogo City, Cebu, followed by a magnitude 7.4 quake on 10 October in Manay, Davao Oriental.
Phivolcs said the Davao quake was the latter in a closely timed pair of tremors known as a “doublet” — proof that while nature can shake things up, it doesn’t take requests.
The “Big One” refers to the potentially catastrophic earthquake that could strike Metro Manila if the West Valley Fault, which runs through Quezon City, Marikina, Pasig, Taguig and Muntinlupa, ruptures.
Scores killed
Scientists estimate that a full movement of the fault could generate a magnitude 7.2 quake.
Studies show the fault moves roughly every 400 to 600 years — the last major movement was about four centuries ago — meaning it is statistically due, though impossible to predict precisely.
A 2014 joint study projects that such an event as the “Big One” could kill more than 34,000 people, injure thousands more, and leave millions homeless. Around 170,000 buildings could collapse, and widespread fires, power outages, and communication breakdowns are expected.
Major roads and bridges could become impassable, crippling rescue and relief operations. The economic impact would be severe, with basic services and supply chains disrupted for weeks.