BICOL UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Daraga, Albay

SCI ED 7

Earth Science
Midterm Project
(A Reflection)

Prepared by:
Jessa Mae M. Herrera
BSED 2 SCIENCE A

Date submitted:
October 24, 2019

Strong quake leaves 1 dead, dozens injured in Philippines

By The Associated Press

Oct 16, 2019, 8:46 PM ET

An earthquake hit the southern Philippines late Wednesday, killing a girl, and injuring
more than two dozen people in collapsed houses, and sending thousands of panicked
people scrambling out of homes, shopping malls and a hospital, officials and news
reports said.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 6.4 quake was centered about 8
kilometers (5 miles) from Columbio, a landlocked town in the coastal province of Sultan
Kudarat. The earthquake had a depth of only 14 kilometers (9 miles). Shallow quakes
tend to cause more damage than deeper ones.

Some areas lost power due to the quake, delaying assessment of possible damage. A
fire broke out in a shopping mall in General Santos city shortly after the quake, but
officials said the spark for the fire was unknown.

A girl hit by collapsed wall in a house died in Datu Paglas town in Maguindanao
province, ABS-CBN television network reported, citing a police report, adding that in
nearby Tulunan town in North Cotabato province, two residents were injured by falling
fragments from a concrete wall.

Vice Mayor Joselito Pinol of North Cotabato's M'lang town said patients were evacuated
out of a hospital to ensure their safety during and after the quake, which injured three
people by falling cinder blocks elsewhere. Several buildings were damaged and some
electric posts got toppled, Pinol said, adding that the shaking was so powerful the
facade of his office crashed down with glass windows.

In the farming town of Magsaysay in Davao del Sur province, more than 20 villagers
were injured by falling objects in their homes. "Many houses were damaged, some
totally. There were many aftershocks," town information officer Anthony Allada said.

The quake knocked out power in Kidapawan city, a key regional transport hub, officials
said.
Schools in quake-hit areas, including the president's hometown of Davao city, have
suspended classes on Thursday so buildings can be inspected for damage. President
Rodrigo Duterte was in the capital, Manila, when the quake struck.

Leslie Francisco, a local disaster response officer, said a small school building in Digos
city in Davao del Sur province was damaged but there was no report of anybody being
trapped inside.

One of the world's most disaster-prone countries, the Philippines has frequent
earthquakes and volcanic activity because it lies on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire",
a seismically active arc of volcanos and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. A magnitude 7.7
quake killed nearly 2,000 people in the northern Philippines in 1990.

Resources:

https://abcnews-go-
com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/abcnews.go.com/amp/International/wireStory/strong-
earthquake-strikes-southern-philippines-66315552?
amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQCKAE
%3D#aoh=15718195906343&referrer=https%3A%2F
%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F
%2Fabcnews.go.com%2FInternational%2FwireStory%2Fstrong-earthquake-strikes-
southern-philippines-66315552
 “An Earthquake, brings chaos”

The 16th day of October on the present year an earthquake hit the southern
Philippines were it killed 1 girl and dozens of people were injured.

This saddening circumstance was not new to us. The movement or shaking of
the ground that happens when huge pieces of the Earth’s crust move suddenly and give
off energy is what we called Earthquake. When I was just at my elementary days,
whenever I feel the movement or shaking of the ground I fell anxious that something
bad might happen or it can be a strong one, luckily until now I still don’t experience that
massive earthquake and I still do not wish to. This happening can really brought a great
fear to everyone of us for it is unpredictable and no one can ever tell where would it hit
next. Due to the fact that this is unpredictable, there are drills that are being practice in
schools and workplaces for us to be ready and know what to do during and after an
earthquake to keep ourselves safe. Before, in my high school days whenever we
conduct an earthquake drill, I see some of the students are not being serious and
doesn’t care at all, they never realize that this drill can be a big help to them. They say
we cannot understand the feeling of others until, we, ourselves experience it, now that I
read about what happen just recently to the southern part of the Philippines, in which
they experience a strong shaking of the ground that according to U.S. Geological
Survey the people there felt 6.4 magnitude of earthquake from Columbio that causes
dozen of people to be injured and one young girl was killed, I felt the urge that each and
everyone should be oriented and be inform what to do during an earthquake for us to
avoid experiencing losing a love once and getting hurt.
During an earthquake according to what I’ve learned in the past lessons, when
you were inside a building it is necessary to go outside (in an open field). It is advisable
to stay calm and not to panic for it may result to stampede in getting out of the building.
“Duck, Cover, and Hold” is also needed during this times, take note that you must stay
away in an area where there are falling debris. You can also cover yourself or hide in a
sturdy table or anything that can protect you in falling debris. After an earthquake stay
still in safe area for it earthquakes can have aftershocks that are way much stronger
than the first one.
 As mentioned above, earthquakes are unpredictable, so it is necessary to be
ready all the time. A Survival kit is what we should have all the time. It contents should
have the following: can goods (or any foods that can be store for a long time),
flashlights, radio (with extra batteries), whistle (that can be a signal in asking for help),
water, extra clothes, medical or first aid kit and other things that is necessary.
“Before, During, and After an Earthquake or and calamity, Readiness is the key to avoid any bad
circumstances but still our faith and prayer is much more powerful”