The text message circulating around Pagadian about a prediction by a certain US Geological Society and purportedly issued by the Hawaii Preparedness Office that a "magnitude of 6.8 earthquake will hit the Philippine plate tonight", (May 14,2008), has sent jittery reactions and apprehensions from local residents here.
The text message started days after the 7.9 magnitude earthquake in China on May 12, 2008.
But the apprehensions were promptly brushed off when later in the day local radio stations broadcast a PHIVOLCS (Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology) clarification saying that the text message was a HOAX.
PHIVOLCS clarified further that 'no organization is currently capable of predicting an earthquake which is very specific in terms of magnitude and the date'. "There is no "US Geological Society", only US Geological SURVEY but this agency does not issue immediate predictions especially for areas outside the United States of America. Past experiences show that rumors of a predicted strong earthquake are common after disastrous earthquakes in nearby countries", PHIVOLCS added. Indeed, no earthquake happened that night.
It can be recalled that on August 17, 1976, a destructive earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 hit Pagadian City. The ensuing tsunami claimed more lives with an estimated 8,000 casualties, making it the worst earthquake and tsunami disaster in the history of the Philippines where Pagadian City sustained the greatest number of casualties.
Meanwhile, PHIVOLCS further added that "the Philippines can be affected by a major earthquake but as to when exactly this would happen cannot be predicted and what is important is we continue to practice earthquake preparedness and risk reduction measures". (Photo courtesy of Dr. George Pararas Carayannis)
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