The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology–Department of Science and Technology (PHIVOLCS) joins the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) in the observance of World Tsunami Awareness Day today, Nov. 05, with the theme “effective education and evacuation drills”.
In line with the observance, the agency will conduct lectures about tsunami and exhibit tour at PHIVOLCS Building, C.P. Garcia Avenue, UP Campus.
The activities aim to promote geologic hazard awareness and preparedness among the students.
Nov. 5 was chosen in honor of a true story from Japan: “Inamura-no-hi”, which means the “burning of the rice sheaves”. During an 1854 earthquake, a farmer saw the tide receding, a sign of a looming tsunami and he set fire to his harvested rice to warn villagers, who fled to high ground.
Recently, the agency commemorated the 40th anniversary of the 1976 Moro Gulf Earthquake and Tsunami last August 17, 2016. The magnitude-8.1 earthquake hit the island of Mindanao on August 17, 1976 at 12:11 AM (PST) that caused damage and collapse of houses and buildings.
The off-shore earthquake produced a massive tsunami killing about 6000 people making it one of the most disastrous tsunami to hit the Philippines.
Tsunami waves as high as nine (9) meters struck the town of Lebak in Sultan Kudarat and it inundated almost all nearby coastal towns.
Likewise, PHIVOLCS encourages schools and the local government units to conduct activities such as Information, Education and Communication Campaigns, and Tsunami Drills that will increase the people’s awareness and preparedness.
No comments:
Post a Comment