The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has issued a stern warning to local government units (LGUs) in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon to ramp up their earthquake and tsunami evacuation strategies following a series of seismic activities off the coast of Ilocos Sur. OCD’s Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno has convened an urgent meeting, directing regional directors to collaborate closely with national agencies and LGUs, particularly the Department of the Interior and Local Government, to bolster their readiness. Nepomuceno emphasized the need to scrutinize earthquake preparations, highlighting the potential for tsunamis triggered by movements along the Manila Trench. He acknowledged the current state of preparedness in these regions is not up to par but stressed the immediate need for improvement. The recent seismic events, which included 49 earthquakes from December 17 to 20 near Santa Catalina, Ilocos Sur, with the strongest being a magnitude 5.0 on December 19, are linked to the active subduction zone of the Manila Trench. Nepomuceno urged communities to enhance their ‘reactions’ to potential tsunami warnings, questioning what actions could be taken within 20 minutes by at-risk communities. Despite the challenges posed by the upcoming holidays and the current level of preparedness, he called for maximum effort. Additionally, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has mandated specific actions for OCD Regional Offices I, II, and III, including the development of tsunami evacuation plans, as outlined in a memorandum signed by Director Cesar Idio.
Urgent Call for Tsunami Preparedness in Northern Philippines After Ilocos Sur Earthquakes
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