In a proactive move to safeguard its residents, the town of Santa Catalina in Ilocos Sur is organizing a tsunami drill later this month. This initiative follows the release of an evacuation guide route by the local government, aimed at preparing the community for potential disasters. The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Santa Catalina has pinpointed three key evacuation sites: Bantay Arcade, Quirino Stadium, and the Farmers Livelihood Development Center, which are deemed safe havens should a magnitude 8 earthquake trigger a tsunami. Janette Rabara, head of the MDRRMO, highlighted the vulnerability of the four coastal villages of Cabittaogan, Subec, Paratong, and Tamorong, with specific sub-villages in Paratong and Tamorong being at higher risk. Despite a recent decline in offshore earthquakes, Rabara stressed the importance of heightened alertness and preparedness. Recent seismic activity in the area included two mild quakes of magnitudes 2.3 and 2.5, as reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Santa Catalina, which experienced a series of offshore earthquakes last December, is home to approximately 10,500 individuals who could be impacted by a tsunami, underscoring the urgency of having a robust evacuation plan in place.
