CDO, MisOr vulnerable to earthquakes, tsunami with discovery of Tagoloan fault line

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 18, 2011—The coastal areas of Northern Mindanao will not be spared by a tsunami once the fault line underneath the sea between Camiguin Island and Bohol province moves, according to the chief of the Office of Civil Defense-X (OCD-10).
                OCD-10 Regional Director Carmelito Lupo said that this city and some areas of Misamis Oriental will also be devastated once the fault line under the Tagoloan River, in the municipality of Tagoloan, moves.
                Because of these, Lupo urged Misamisnons and Cagayanons, including Camiguinons to be extra cautious and always careful because tragedy can strike anytime.
                He said that no one can really tell if the tsunami that hit Sultan Naga Dimaporo in Lanao del Norte in 1976 will happen again.
                On the night of August 17, 1976, a tsunami ravaged Illana Bay and reached as high as 4 to 5 meters (14-15 feet) when they hit land. It was caused by a 6.7 magnitude undersea earthquake, whose epicenter was in the Celebes Sea between Mindanao mainland and Borneo. 
                The 1976 earthquake and tsunami, also known as 1976 Moro Earthquake and Tsunami, killed at least 8,000 people and wounded 10,000 more. It also rendered 90,000 homeless, making it the most devastating natural disasters 
that hit Mindanao is the 20th century.
                Lupo said that nobody expected the 1976 tragedy and nobody can predict any earthquake or tsunami to hit Misamis Oriental or the Philippines, which is why it is very important to be always on the alert.
                He said that alertness is more pronounced now with what happened in Sendai, Japan and most especially since the Philippines is within what is called the Pacific Ring of Fire.
                On the other hand, city vice mayor Caesar Ian Acenas urged City Hall to improve the city’s disaster readiness and map out mitigating plans and measures to cushion the impact of a strong earthquake.
                “Natural disasters cannot be prevented but we can prevent the loss of lives,” he said.
                Acenas also urged City Hall to go on an awareness campaign so that Cagayanons will be more prepared in case calamity strikes, especially with the discovery of the Tagoloan Fault Line, which the Philippine Volcanology and 
Seismology (PhiVolcs) is now monitoring.
                Rey Macaspac, analyst at the PhiVolcs here said that so far, they have not monitored any movement in the Tagoloan Fault Line despite the strong earthquake that hit Japan.
                Despite this, Macaspac urged Misamisnons and Cagayanons to always be alert for any eventuality. (Bong D. Fabe)