Project

In
Science
Submitted by:
Cyril Gean-Carlo C. Fortaleza

Submitted to:
Mr. Richard Olimba
 1990 Luzon earthquake

The 1990 Luzon earthquake struck the island of Luzon in the Philippines
at 4:26 p.m. on July 16 (PDT). 3:26 p.m. (PST) with an
estimated moment magnitude of 7.7 and a maximum Mercalli
intensityof IX (Violent) and produced a 125 km-long ground
rupture that stretched from Dingalan, Aurora to Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija.
The event was a result of strike-slip movements along the Philippine
Fault and the Digdig Fault within the Philippine Fault System. The
earthquake's epicenter was near the town of Rizal, Nueva Ecija,
northeast of Cabanatuan City.[4] An estimated 1,621 people were
killed,[5][6] most of the fatalities located in Central Luzon and
the Cordillera region.

The earthquake caused damage within an area of about 20,000 square

kilometers, stretching from the mountains of the Cordillera
Administrative Regionand through the Central Luzon region. The
earthquake was strongly felt in Metropolitan Manila, destroying many
buildings and leading to panic and stampedes and ultimately three
deaths in the National Capital Region,[10] one of the lowest fatalities
recorded in the wake of the tremor. The Southern Tagalog (nowadays
Regions 4A and 4B) and Bicol Regions also felt the quake, but with low
casualty figures.
Lessons
The 1990 earthquake left not just massive damage and casualties, but
also lessons about disaster readiness.
Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Officer-
in-Charge Renato Solidum said the great earthquake left us with 4
valuable lessons.
1. Public needs to respond properly during earthquakes
According to Solidum, not much attention was given to disasters,
especially earthquakes, at the time. In fact, earthquake drills were
unheard of then.
Fortunately, earthquake drills are often conducted lately. This is in
anticipation of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that could be produced by
the movement of the West Valley Fault, and of a tsunami that could
result from the movement of the Manila Trench.

2. Hazards and their effects should be simulated

After the earthquake, transportation and communication lines were all
affected, leaving Baguio isolated from the outside. The government did
not have any idea about what the situation in Baguio was like then.
Taking off from that, Solidum said it is important for people to be aware
of the hazards in their areas so that if a disaster happens, they are not
left clueless about developments – should communication lines be cut
or roads blocked.

3. Building codes should be implemented properly, and land use

should be carefully planned.
Despite having several collapsed and destroyed buildings, a good
number of them were left standing then. Solidum said the country's
building code is actually good, but the problem lies in implementation.
Good design, quality materials, and good workmanship are needed for
a disaster-resilient building.
When it comes to land use planning, he said that buildings should not
be constructed in areas prone to landslides. “Shaking does not kill
people. Collapsing buildings will,” Solidum said.

4. Trained search and rescue groups and medical responders are

needed.
Immediate response after an earthquake could be a problem, especially
if there is a lack of rescue groups and responders.
According to Solidum, the golden rule is: "People must be rescued
within the first 3 days."
But are we ready?
In 2004, a study funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency,
the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study
(MMEIRS) found that a 7.2 magnitude earthquake could hit Metro
Manila and could destroy 40% of the establishments in the metropolis
and kill around 34,000.