PHIVOLCS: Over 3,000 structures along West Valley Fault exposed to ground rupture

More than 3,000 structures built along the the West Valley Fault are not likely to survive the rupturing of the ground when the fault moves, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned on Wednesday.

"Kahit matibay yung building, magra-rapture 'yung ground, mag-o-off set 'yung mga foundation. So most likely, 'yung chance na masira 'yung building, malaki," Dr. Arturo Daag, PHIVOLCS' Chief Science Research Specialist, said on Maki Pulido's report for Balitanghali on Wednesday.

"'Yung ganu'n, walang engineering intervention," he added.

The West Valley Fault runs 100 kilometers from Bulacan to Cavite and Laguna.

According to PHIVOLCS, a total of 3,263 structures built along the fault are exposed to ground rupture once it moves in a major earthquake.

These include 1,630 residential structures;  1,392 mixed residential and commercial structures; 58 commercial structures; 52 industrial structures; 24 cultural structures; seven infrastructure and utilities structures; and six recreational structures.

PHIVOLCS earlier advised affected residents and establishments to clear the "danger zone" and had placed markers and warning signs in the area, which remains populated.

"Wala pong available na malilipatan kami kasi dito lang ang titirhan namin kung bigyan kami ng available na ano, why not?" William Gondraños, a resident living along the faultline, said.

Based on a 2004 study by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), more than 30,000 people could die while over 100,000 others could get hurt when a possible major earthquake dubbed the "Big One" strikes.

PHIVOLCS, which has started working on a new study using updated data, says a bigger number of people could be put in harm's way.

"It's 2004 data, medyo luma na. Kasi nag-increase 'yung population, 'yung building intensity nag-iba na," Daag said.

PHIVOLCS renewed the warning a few days after a magnitude 6.1 quake rocked parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, on Monday afternoon, killing at least 16 people. — Margaret Claire Layug/RSJ, GMA News