Phivolcs: Mining doesn't trigger earthquakes

MANILA, Philippines — State volcanology bureau Phivolcs on Tuesday addressed concerns over mining activities, saying these do not activate fault movements nor cause earthquakes.

“Mining activities do not trigger fault movement and do not trigger significant volcanic events,” Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said in a televised phone patch interview.

“However, mining activities if not properly done, can destabilize the slopes and if ever there is either a strong ground shaking or rainfall events especially those which are continuous and strong, then the slopes can be either eroded or landslide can happen,” the top state volcanologist added.

Residents of Surigao City who experienced a magnitude 6.7 earthquake last Friday were concerned over mining activities there. The tremor destroyed some establishments including the airport runway, killed at least eight people and injured more than 100 people.

The city and its nearby provinces are also experiencing several aftershocks.

In his speech during his Surigao City visit last Sunday, President Rodrigo Duterte said the city was the “most mined” place as well as Davao. He then warned of closing down mining firms saying it wrecks the environment.

“I closed these mining operations because our mountains have really been destroyed already and you could see the patches,” Duterte told the residents present during his Surigao visit.

The president visited the quake-stricken city to personally oversee the rescue operations and affected residents.

Solidum, however, clarified that illegal mining activities such as blasting can only cause localized shaking but not trigger fault movements.