St.

Mary’s College of Baliuag

Baliuag, Bulacan
SY 2020-2021

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Certificate No. 01 100 1534708
PAASCU Level III Accredited

Subject: DRRR Grade Level: 11 Quarter: Third

Module Number: 3 (2 weeks) Topic: Earthquake Hazards and Mitigation

I. INTRODUCTION
Philippines is an archipelago of more than seven thousand islands located in
Southeast Asia, also lying along the Pacific Ring of Fire. It commonly experiences
typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, droughts, storm surges,
tsunami and floods among many others. This cyclic ‘hazard-after-another-hazard’
pattern plagues the country enough to cause environmental destruction and
greater socio-economic interruption.
Hazards are indeed part of our daily lives. The occurrences of such geological hazards have
helped Filipinos to be resilient, be aware, and be prepared for these natural hazardsl. This module
will be your portal to the heart of the Earth where geologic events cannot be precisely predicted,
only managed.
II.THIS MODULE WAS MADE FOR YOU TO:

 identify various potential earthquake hazards

 recognize the natural signs of an impending tsunami
 analyze the effects of the different earthquake hazards
 apply precautionary measure before, during, and after an earthquake

III. DISCUSSION
A. Presentation of the Lesson
1. NATURE-al Hazards

(Image Source: https://www.tes.com/lessons/AtWMzefELBHSiQ/natural-disasters)

Every year in the Philippines, one or more natural hazards listed in the image
above threatens the lives and livelihoods of the Filipino people. One of these, is
Earthquakes.
 Earthquakes also known as tremor,
quake or temblor, is the sudden release
of energy from the Earth’s crust that
results in shaking and displacement of
the ground that creates a form of
vibrations called seismic waves. It is
most likely to occur at fault lines and
trenches.

It is like throwing a stone in a pond of

still water. You will observe that series of
waves will be produced on its surface.
These waves spread out in all directions
from the point where the stone strikes the (Image Source:
water. https://joohoyoon.wordpress.com/2010/05/17/grace/)

2. Earthquake Hazards
Anything that can be moved, fall off, or be toppled when ground shaking occurs that
causes physical pain and destruction is called Earthquake Hazards.

Earthquake hazards is generally classified into two:

Earthquake Hazards

Primary Earthquake Hazards Secondary Earthquake Hazards

directed results movement results of primary hazards

of the ground which can prove to be
more catastrophic.

Ground Shaking Tsunami

Landslides Seiche

Liquefaction Flood

Surface Rupture Fire

3. Primary Hazards of Earthquake

a. Ground Shaking
It refers to the vibration or movement of the ground when an earthquake occurs,
usually recorded in terms of intensity. It can be classified as both hazards produced
by earthquake and a trigger for other hazards such as liquefaction and landslides.
Most of the damage from
earthquakes is the result from
ground shaking caused by
seismic waves passing
underneath roads, buildings,
bridges and other
infrastructures.

For example, when

earthquake occurs, building’s
exterior walls may crumble,
debris could block streets and
roads electric lines may collapse
and may injure individual.

(Image Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-24530042)

Take the case of the churches in Bohol, most of it collapsed due to ground shaking
caused by 7.2 magnitude earthquake occurred on October 15, 2013.

b. Landslides
When strong earthquake occurs, landslides may happen. It usually occurs in high
places where the soil has become loose and then slides downward with action of
gravity and presence of water. Ground shaking triggers the soil to move like a liquid in
an event called soil liquefaction and triggers landslides. Landslides includes wide
range of ground movement such as
rock fall, debris flow and slide, creep
or slumps. A magnitude 4.0 to 4.9
earthquake is strong enough to break
windows and cause small or unstable
objects to fall.

The image at the left is the

massive landslide that buried an
entire village in Leyte on February 17,
2006. It had reported that 85 people
were confirmed dead with an
additional 981 missing and feared
dead in the slide.
(Image Source: https://archive.defense.gov/home/features/leyte/landslide/index.html)

c. Liquefaction
Liquefaction takes place when loosely packed, water-logged sediments at or near
the ground surface lose their strength in response to strong ground shaking.
Liquefaction occurring beneath buildings and other structures can cause major
damage during earthquake. As a result, some areas on the surface are higher than
the others, and the entire area becomes uneven.

(7. 1 magnitude Darfield Earthquake on 2010 (New Zealand) and 7.8 Luzon Earthquake on 1990
(Dagupan, Philippines) : Tilting of structures: https://www.nzsee.org.nz/db/2011/043.pdf)

d. Surface Rupture/Ground Rupture

Surface rupture occurs when movement on a fault deep within the Earth breaks
through to the surface, it happens only at the area where the fault zone moves. Any
structure constructed across the fault is at risk of being broken apart when the two side
of the faults slide past to each other. The structure built adjacent to the fault will survive
while structures built across these zones will collapse.

The friction across the surface of

the fault holds the rocks together so they
do not slip immediately when pushed
sideways. Eventually enough stress
builds up and the rocks slip suddenly,
releasing energy in waves that travel
through the rock to cause the shaking
that we feel during an earthquake.

(The fault rupture in the 1999 Chi Chi Earthquake in

Taiwan under the Bei-fung Bridge that lifted the upper
stream by 5 to 6 meters (15 to 20 feet):
https://pnsn.org/outreach/earthquakehazards/surface-
rupture)
 Now that you are done studying the primary earthquake hazards, let us move on
to the more catastrophic events caused by these primary hazards--the Secondary
Earthquake Hazards:

e. Tsunami
Tsunamis are giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the
sea. Out in the depths of the ocean, tsunami waves do not significantly increase in
height. But as the waves move inland, they build up to higher and higher heights as
the depth of the ocean decreases. The speed of tsunami waves depends on ocean
depth rather than the distance from the source of the wave. Tsunami waves may travel
as fast as jet planes over deep waters, only slowing down when reaching shallow
waters.

Since Philippines is surrounded by water reservoirs and situated in the Pacific Ring
of Fire, it has the high risk of being hit by tsunami anytime. Tsunami waves from other
country may also affects ours. Some of the factors that you should consider if you are
in areas vulnerable to a tsunami are the following:

1. If you are near the coastlines or the elevation is below sea level;
2. If your area has a previous tsunami events in its history; and
3. If the authorities have previously issued a tsunami warning.

(Tsunami triggered by an 8.1 magnitude earthquake along the Cotabato Trench struck at the Moro Gulf,
killed 8, 000 people on 1976: https://www.bworldonline.com/world-tsunami-day-giant-waves-rare-in-phl-
but-could-be-devastating-says-phivolcs/

Sign of Impending Tsunami:

1. Severe ground shaking from local earthquakes may cause

tsunamis.
2. As a tsunami approaches shorelines, water may recede from the
coast, exposing the ocean floor, reefs and fish.
3. Abnormal ocean activity, a wall of water, and an approaching
tsunami create a loud "roaring" sound similar to that of a train or jet
aircraft.

f. Seiche
It is a standing wave in a body of water
which is enclosed or partly enclosed. When an
earthquake occurs, it triggers seiche which is
commonly observed on lakes, rivers, swimming
pools, bays, harbors and seas. The main
requirement for seiche formation is that the body
of water be at least partially bounded, allowing
the standing wave to form.
(Image Source: https://theconversation.com/a-seiche-wave-can-
outpace-a-tsunami-and-both-can-be-triggered-by-meteorites-
and-earthquakes-114753)

See how seiche occurs in swimming pool, visit the link,

https://youtu.be/Z7kNr354PJs. It shows how seiche generated from
Nepal Earthquake on April 25, 2015.
 g. Flood
When earthquakes occur in low lying areas, flood may be generated. In coastal
areas, tsunami can cause flood when it hits the land. When dams break due to strong
ground shaking, the water flowing out could cause massive flooding in nearby low-
lying areas. A landslide that hits the river will cause the water to swell and to spill out
on the neighboring areas.

(2015 Nepal Earthquake caused flooding across huge areas: https://theirworld.org/news/nepal-deadly-

floods-schools-closed-used-as-shelters)

h. Fire
Have you ever heard the possibility
of fires because of an earthquake? Well,
in the history, fire occurs mostly because
of the gas lines, electrical lines, utility
wires. But when earthquake occurs,
candles and lanterns that were tipped
over can caused fires as well.

Earthquakes can even block access

to fire-fighting water supplies or, worse,
even trucks and equipment.

(Houses in flames as fire spreads through a

city block following the January 1995 Kobe
earthquake in Japan:
http://www.coolgeography.co.uk/GCSE/AQA/Restless%20Earth/Earthquakes/Kobe.htm)

According to the joint study of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)

and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), PHIVOLCS looked a worst-
case scenario for the Philippines known as “The Big One.” It will destroy thousands of
infrastructures and threatened tens of thousands of lives. (Sabillo, 2015)

Given with this worst-case scenario that might affect several provinces and took
thousands of lives, the question of preparedness is still questionable.

Thus, Philippine government under National Disaster Risk Reduction &

Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Philippines Disaster Resilience Foundation
(PDRF) engage both private and public sector in increasing country’s resilience and
preparedness activities such as earthquake drills and evacuation plans. But with these
effort, what will you do when earthquake hits right at this moment?

4. Practical ways of Coping Geological Hazards caused by Earthquakes

a. What to do before an Earthquake:

 Secure heavy items
in your home like bookcases, refrigerators,
televisions, pictures and mirrors, away from
beds or couches.
 Repair defective electrical wiring and
leaky gas connections that are potential for
fire.
 Create a family emergency
communications plan and prepare
emergency survival kits.
 Familiarize yourselves with exit
routes. Participate in earthquake drills.
  Secure your important documents such as marriage contract, birth certificate
and the like.
 Chemical and flammable materials should be stored properly.

b. What to do during an Earthquake:

 Drop, cover, hold.
1. Drop: Wherever you are, drop down on to
your hands and knees. If you’re using a
wheelchair or walker with a seat, make
sure your wheels are locked and remain
seated until the shaking stops.
2. Cover: Cover your head and neck with your arms. If a sturdy table or desk
is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If no shelter is nearby, crawl next
to an interior wall (away from windows). Crawl only if you can reach better
cover without going through an area with more debris. Stay on your knees
or bent over to protect vital organs.
3. Hold on: If you are under a table or desk, hold on with one hand and be
ready to move with it if it moves. If seated and unable to drop to the floor,
bend forward, cover your head with your arms and hold on to your neck with
both hands.
 Stay in bed if you are there when earthquake occurs, hold on and protect your
head with a pillow or move to the safest place if possible.
 Do not use elevators.
 Be aware that the electricity may go out or fire alarms may turn on.
 If you are outdoors, go to an open area away from buildings, trees, streetlights,
and power lines.
 Stay away from windows, tall furniture, and light fixtures. Shattered glass and
heavy objects may hurt you.

c. What to do after an Earthquake:

 Do not enter damaged buildings. Do not use telephone unless necessary.
 Go out safely. Once the shaking stops, take the fastest and safest way out of
the building. Do not use elevators.
 Check yourself and other for injuries. Call for help when seriously-injured
individuals need assistance. But give first aid when appropriate.
 If you need to evacuate your residence, leave a message stating where you
are going and bring your emergency survival kit.
 Keep updated on the news from battery-operated radios and television
because aftershocks may occur.
 If you are opening your cabinets, beware of objects that can fall off shelves.
 Clean up soiled medicines, bleaches, gasoline or other flammable liquids
immediately. Leave the area if you smell gas from other chemicals. Check for
gas leaks.

II. REMEMBER
 Earthquakes have been occurring as part of Earth’s normal functioning. Earthquakes
are frequent in the Philippines because the country is lying in the Pacific Ring of Fire
and that it is traversed in its midsection by the Philippine Fault System.
 Earthquakes hazards includes ground shaking, landslides, liquefaction, surface
rupture, tsunami, seiche, flood and fire.
 In general, effects of earthquake hazards include structural damage to buildings,
houses, highways and bridges; damage to properties, loss of livelihood, employment
and tourism opportunities; and people injured, missing and dead after earthquake
occur.
 Knowing the safety measures and precautions could save lives. Knowing your
community emergency preparedness plan, 72-hr emergency survival kit, and keep
yourself protected, and extend help to those who need it are some of the practical
ways in coping these geological hazards.