MMDA continues preparations for the ‘Big One’

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday said it is still conducting preparations for a possible catastrophic earthquake or the "Big One".

MMDA spokesperson Mel Catarungan made the statement at a televised public briefing following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on February 6.

“Ang pagkakatulad po sa Turkey at Metro Manila ay madami ring mga gusali dito at high density po ang population sa Metro Manila. So patuloy pa rin ang paghahanda namin para sa the "Big One"," she said.

(The similarities between the affected area in Turkey and Metro Manila is the high number of buildings and the high density population. So we continue to prepare for the "Big One".)

Carunungan said the MMDA gives seminars and lectures on disaster preparedness and organizes possible deployment of urban search and rescue teams.

She added that the MMDA wants a strict implementation of the National Building Code to prevent or lessen the number of buildings that will collapse in case a strong earthquake strikes.

According to her, evacuation plans are already in place.

The death toll in Turkey and Syria due to the earthquake has reached 41,000, Reuters reported. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News