The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has identified a new fault line in Bogo City, Cebu, and advised residents and developers to avoid constructing structures near its location.
Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said on Monday, October 6, that the newly found Bogo Bay Fault was responsible for the magnitude 6.9 offshore earthquake that struck Cebu on September 30.
He noted that the fault runs through Sitio Looc in Barangay Nailon and stretches about six kilometers on land.
Bacolcol reminded the public that no residential or commercial structure should be built directly above or within five meters of an active fault.
Phivolcs has also set a five-meter buffer zone on both sides of the fault and urged the local government to integrate the area into its comprehensive land use and disaster preparedness plans.
Bacolcol added that the fault was discovered on October 3, and that field verification is still in progress.
He encouraged the Bogo City government to use the results of the ongoing field mapping to guide its future land-use and development planning.
Phivolcs has recorded 7,190 aftershocks since the powerful earthquake, with magnitudes ranging from 1 to 5.1. Of these, 31 were felt by residents, while 1,397 were accurately plotted.
According to Bacolcol, such aftershocks are normal and could continue for several weeks or even months.
He also advised homeowners to consult experts to determine if their houses can withstand an intensity VIII earthquake.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.