Phivolcs commemorates 1976 Mindanao quake

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) commemorated yesterday the 40th anniversary of the magnitude 8.1 earthquake and tsunami that killed over 6,000 people in Mindanao.

Phivolcs organized a fair at the Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School in Zamboanga City to promote geological hazard awareness and preparedness.

The earthquake occurred on Aug. 17, 1976 due to the movement of the Cotabato trench. The tsunami that was generated due to the quake is considered the most destructive in the history of the country.

“People were mostly asleep and were only awakened by the strong shaking. About five minutes after the earthquake, a rumbling sound was heard from the shore, and three to four succeeding waves hit the coastal areas. Some were not able to immediately evacuate to higher grounds,” Phivolcs said.

“Awareness and preparedness would increase our chances against natural hazards and disasters. Through the continuous monitoring and information, education and communication campaign of Phivolcs, let us keep our communities safe from and resilient to volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis and other related hazards,” the agency added.

‘It can happen again’

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum Jr. warned the public that such disastrous earthquake and tsunami could happen in the region again.

Solidum noted that aside from the trenches in Western Mindanao –Cotabato on the east of the Moro Gulf and Sulu on Western Mindanao -there are inline faults in Zamboanga peninsula that could trigger a major earthquake.

“The commemoration of the 40th anniversary is very important because the people will not prepare if they will not remember that in the past there were similar disasters,” he said. – With Roel Pareño