Warning circulating about volcanic eruptions, a hoax - Phivolcs head

Sunday 5th of February 2012

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Feb 5 (PIA) – The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has not issued any warning about volcanic eruption and tsunami occurrence in Eastern Samar, Phivolcs Director Renato Solidom Jr. said.

Solidom made it clear that all official warnings from Phivolcs are coursed through the DRRMCs (disaster risk reduction management councils). “Not true at all. There is no truth that a Phivolcs personnel issued such warning by Phivolcs as all official warnings are coursed through DRRMCs,” Dr. Solidom said.

The Phivolcs chief said that the series of earthquakes beginning the third week of January 2012, the latest significant tremor with magnitude of 5.9 which occurred at 9:09 p.m. of February 4 with epicenters offshore of Eastern Samar and felt in Samar and Leyte islands, are the result of movements of the Philippine Sea Plate moving under the Eastern Philippine Trench.

“These are not caused by volcanic activity,” Dr. Solidom added, saying that there are no underwater volcanoes east of the Samar Island and it is not possible to have volcanoes there.

The pronouncement was elicited when a text message circulated in Eastern Visayas after an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 rocked Eastern Samar at 9:09 p.m. of February 4. The hoax, headlined “NOTICE” stated that at " 5:00 p.m. of February 5, the underwater volcano in Matarinao, Salcedo, East Samar will explode with a magnitude intensity of higher than 12 kilometers. It also warned people to evacuate 'as early as now' to open space and higher grounds."

Dr. Solidom said that aftershocks may still happen, although the exact timing cannot be predicted. Most aftershocks are not significant in sizes but stronger ones cannot be discounted, the Phivolcs chief added.

Dr. Solidom called on the public not panic and not to believe in text rumors, more so, spread rumors. He said that the reason why he sent PIA the message is for the Philippine Information Agency to inform the media and the public.

However, Dr. Solidom said that the public should always be reminded that strong earthquakes have happened in the area in the past. Therefore, it is always important that earthquake and tsunami preparedness be conducted by the DRRMCs, local governments, and the public, Dr. Solidom concluded. (PIA 8)