Metro Manila, nearby provinces brace for ‘big one’ with shake drill

Scenes from the Metro-wide shake drill

The Philippines, a disaster-prone country, is expecting a strong earthquake anytime in the next 50 years and it wants to make sure it is ready.

At 9 a.m. on Wednesday, alarms sounded off at Camp Aguinaldo, the ceremonial venue, signaling the 7.2 magnitude earthquake simulation.

The earthquake drill was also held simultaneously in nearby provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna.

The movement of the West Valley Fault that could generate the massive earthquake runs through parts of Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

READ: Duck, cover, hold! Take 2 for Shake Drill at 9 a.m. today

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has said that based on historical data, the Philippines is expecting a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake anytime within the next 50 years and could potentially kill 34,000 people.

Scenarios such as collapsed structures, fire, stampede and looting will be simulated to test how rescue teams will respond.

The metro-wide drill is taking place simultaneously with the nationwide earthquake drill. CDG

READ: MMDA hoping to surpass 6.5M joiners in 2016 Shake Drill

“Victims” all over Guadalupe Bridge in Makati during the metro-wide earthquake drill on Wednesday. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA/INQUIRER PHOTO

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