Four disaster scenarios were tested Thursday morning during the #MMQuakeDrill conducted at the LRT2-Santolan station depot in Marikina City.
The first featured a collapsed two-story house with the victims still inside; the second involved two electrical posts collapsing on a vehicle.
The collapse of the Marikina bridge was the third scenario, with victims falling off the bridge and being rescued using the WASSAR (Water Safety Search and Rescue) method.
The last scenario had one victim still hanging on to the bridge. The victim was rescued by rappelling Philippine Army soldiers, then transferred to a coast guard pump boat to bring him to a safe area, said East Sector deputy commander Dr. Josefina Faulan.
An LED monitor was set up to display the progress of the search and rescue operations.
Evacuees ducked, covered and held as sirens blared at exactly 10:30 a.m. for the metrowide earthquake drill spearheaded by the Metro Manila Development Authority, in preparation for “The Big One,” an anticipated 7.2-magnitude earthquake generated by the West Valley Fault, which runs through Marikina, Pasig and Muntinlupa and other cities.
The Philippine Red Cross set up a medical station while the Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed relief goods. The Philippine Army took charge of rescue operations.
The East Sector command post, which covers Pasig and Marikina, supervised the drill.—Beanne Guevarra and Mary Gillan Frances Ropero, INQUIRER.net trainees