By Xinhua,
Manila : A 7.2 magnitude earthquake is the estimated “maximum credible” earthquake that can hit the Philippines’ capital of Metro Manila, but it doesn’t mean it will happen anytime soon, said a study released on Thursday.
“The 7.2 magnitude is the maximum credible earthquake from the West Valley fault,” said Renato Solidum Jr., director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Metro Manila lies near the West Valley fault.
This is not a prediction but an estimate of what a fault can produce, Philippine TV network ABS-CBN News citing Solidum reported.
The Metropolitan Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study was done to assess the hazards and impact of earthquakes on buildings, Solidum said. “Earthquakes per se do not injure people” but rather the buildings that topple down, he added.
The study was conducted for planning and preparedness in case earthquakes this strong happen, Solidum said. Structures should follow the building codes and “make sure that they are strong not just during design, but also in construction,” he said. Appropriate land use should be followed such as designating proper zones for construction.
Solidum said around 38 percent of the structures in Metro Manila can be affected with “slight to heavy damage” by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. These estimates were produced by comparing different building materials, such as wood or cement, and how these withstood earthquakes in the past. What they did is different from the very detailed inspection of buildings by engineers which could determine how strong a certain structure actually is.
Earthquakes as strong as 7.2 are possible in the Philippines. Records show that there have been earthquakes with even higher magnitudes. Solidum said in 1948 an 8.3 magnitude registered in Panay while Luzon was hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 1990.
“The implication of the study is, if there are buildings that can be affected by it (strong earthquake), they definitely must inspect these buildings,” Solidum said.