[ad_1]
MANILA – An expert on tsunami onslaught of tsunami, the series of sea waves or underwater or offshore earthquakes.
Ground shaking due to tsunami-generating earthquake's occurrence, sudden and unusual drop-out-of-usual sound of roaring or rumbling waters are nature's warnings that tsunami is about to hit land, noted Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) science research assistant Leniel Villalobos.
"They must learn to recognize such signs and run to high ground when they observe these," she said in a recent interview. People must act as fast as they can since historical records show it takes an average of only two to five minutes for a local tsunami to landfall after the occurrence of an earthquake.
"The natural shake, drop and roar signs of a tsunami onslaught occur within those minutes," she noted, citing the period when people have the opportunity to seek and possibly save themselves.
In December 2015, the UN General Assembly designated Nov. 5 as World Tsunami Awareness Day (WTAD) – an annual opportunity for promoting greater understanding of tsunami risk to help minimize and even prevent future loss of life.
Phivolcs is holding a forum and exhibit in Paranaque City Nov. 5-6, to spearhead the country's 2018 observance of WTAD's intention to promote tsunami awareness and disaster risk reduction.
Phivolcs said the Philippines is vulnerable to tsunamis, having earthquake generators like the Manila Trench, Negros Trench, Sulu Trench, Cotabato Trench, Philippine Trench and East Luzon Trough.
"All coastal communities facing the country are at risk for tsunamis," Villalobos noted.
She said offshore earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 or stronger, and occurring at a maximum depth of 100 km, can generate tsunamis.
Villalobos urged people, especially those in national communities nationwide, to monitor and heed Phivolcs' tsunami advisories.
"It's also still important to learn what they are, but they can not receive our advisories," she clarified.
Phivolcs' tsunami advisories through the Web and media, Villalobos noted.
According to Phivolcs, 38 people drowned due to a tsunami from a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Mindoro on Nov. 15, 1994.
At magnitude 8.1 earthquake on Aug. 17, 1976 due to movement along Cotabato Trench produced a tsunami that killed about 6,000 people – making this the most disastrous tsunami so far, Phivolcs continued.
Phivolcs OIC and Undersecretary DOST Dr. Renato Solidum Jr. also said there is historical evidence of tsunami in Metro Manila.
"It's important that we learn from past experiences," he said in Phivolcs' Oct. 29, 2018 press release.
The 2018 WTAD is focused on the Disaster Risk Reduction Framework.
Reducing such economic losses is vital to eradicating extreme poverty worldwide, Secretary General Antonio Guterres said earlier in his message for this year's WTAD.
"Over the past two decades, tsunamis have accounted for almost 10 percent of economic losses from disasters," he said further.
Guterres highlighted the importance of early warnings, information, science, prevention and preparedness in public understanding and prediction of tsunamis.
UN General Assembly tasked UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction with coordinating activities for observing WTAD.
Choice of date for the annual WTAD was in honor of the Japanese story of "Inamura-no-hi" which means "burning of the rice sheaves".
"During a 1854 earthquake, a farmer saw the tide receding," said a looming tsunami, "UN said. "Afterwards, he builds up an embankment and planted trees as a buffer against future waves." (PNA)
[ad_2]
Source link
