What are Earthquake Hazards?

Earthquake Hazards refer to earthquake agents which have the potential to

cause harm to a vulnerable target which can either be humans, animals or
even your environment.
The effects of an earthquake can be classified as primary or secondary.
 Primary effects are permanent features an earthquake can bring out.
Examples include fault scarps, surface ruptures, and offsets of natural
or human-constructed objects.
 Secondary effects happen when ground movement results to other types
of destruction. Examples include landslides, tsunami, liquefaction and
fire.
Below are the four earthquake hazards which are considered as secondary
effects of an earthquake:

1. Landslides
Seismic vibration is a common triggering
mechanism for landslides. Landslides can
have particularly devastating effects like
floods, blocking of rivers, death, and
damage to land and natural resources.
Landslides can be prevented by reinforcing
slope material, modifying the pathway for
surface and underwater and by putting
piles and retaining walls.

2. Tsunami
A tsunami is a huge sea wave triggered by a
violent displacement of the ocean floor.
Underwater earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions or landslides can cause tsunami.
As it approaches a shallow coastline, its
speed decreased, but the height of the
tsunami increases drastically, bringing so
much damage to nearby communities.
Tsunamis can also overwhelm sewage
systems, destroy structures and kill
people.
3. Liquefaction
Earthquake motion can turn loosely
packed, water-saturated soil to liquid
—"liquefaction.” Liquefied soil becomes
less compact and ultimately lose the
ability to support roads, buried pipes, and,
of course, houses. It is caused by vibration
or saturation with water which causes the
soil to decrease in density. This poses
danger for it lead to unstable structures of
buildings due to ground subsidence.

4. Fires
Earthquakes cause fires. Even moderate
ground shaking can break gas and
electrical lines, sever fuel lines, and
overturn stoves. To further complicate things, water pipes rupture, so it would
be impossible to extinguish the fire.

Most commonly used methods of reducing earthquake risks are as follows:

1. Effective recording and interpretation of ground motion
This can be done by effective instrumentation in order to determine the
location, strength and frequency of earthquakes. This assists in
providing alerts and warnings especially to high-risk or vulnerable areas
for preparation and emergency response.
2. Constructing seismic hazard maps
A seismic hazard map shows the potential hazards in a given area. In many
regions in our country, seismic expectancy maps or hazard maps are now
available for planning purposes. It serves as basis for disaster management
information like locations for evacuation and evacuation routes. The anticipated
intensity of ground shaking is represented by a number called the peak
acceleration or the peak velocity.
3. Developing resistant structures
Resistant structures are able to withstand collapse by redistributing forces
caused by seismic waves through shear walls. Developing engineered structural
designs that are able to resist the forces generated by seismic waves can be
achieved either by following building codes based on hazard maps or by
appropriate methods of analysis.

What are the natural signs of an impending tsunami?

1. Feel an earthquake. Severe ground shaking from local earthquakes may

cause tsunamis. However, an earthquake may not be felt if the event is
far away.

2. See ocean water disappear from beach, bay, river. Water may recede
from the coast, exposing the ocean floor, reefs and fish before returning
as a fast-moving wall of water (tsunami). This is called “drawback.”
Drawback can exceed hundreds of meters exposing normally submerged
areas.

3. Hear an unusual roaring sound. Abnormal ocean activity, a wall of

water, and an approaching tsunami can create a loud "roaring" sound
similar to that of a train or jet aircraft.

What should you do when a tsunami threatens?

1. Preparations before a tsunami:

 a. If you live near or visit a coastal area, learn about the risk of a tsunami.
Some at-risk communities have maps with evacuation zones and routes.

b. Learn the signs of an impending tsunami.

c. Know and practice community evacuation plans and map out your
routes from coming from your house, work, and other areas.

d. Create a family emergency plan with all your family members.

2. During the event of a tsunami:

a. Protect yourself first from an earthquake if you are in a tsunami area. Do

the Duck, Cover, and Hold. Tsunamis generated in distant locations will
generally give people enough time to move to higher ground. For locally-
generated tsunamis, where you might feel the ground shake, you may
only have a few minutes to move to higher ground.

b. If there is a warning, either from the officials or a natural sign, move

immediately to a safe place as high and as far from the inland as
possible.

c. If you are outside the tsunami hazard zone and a warning has been
issued, stay where you are unless officials tell you otherwise.

d. If you are in school and a tsunami warning has been issued, follow the
advice of teachers and other school personnel.

e. If you are at home and hear there is a tsunami warning, you should
make sure your entire family is aware of the warning. Move in an orderly,
calm and safe manner to the evacuation site or to any safe place outside
your evacuation zone. Always follow the evacuation instructions of local
emergency and law enforcement authorities.

f. High, multi-story, reinforced concrete hotels are located in many low-

lying coastal areas. The upper floors of these hotels can provide a safe
place to find refuge should there be a tsunami warning and you cannot
move quickly inland to higher ground. On the other hand, homes and
small buildings located in low lying coastal areas are not designed to
withstand tsunami impacts. Do not stay in these structures should there
be a tsunami warning.

g. Offshore reefs and shallow areas may help break the force of tsunami
waves, but large and dangerous waves can still be threat to coastal
residents in these areas. Stay away from all low-lying coastal areas when
there is a tsunami warning.
 h. If you are in a boat at sea or in a harbor, do not return to port if you are
at sea and a tsunami warning has been issued for your area. Tsunamis
are imperceptible and can cause rapid changes in water level and
unpredictable dangerous currents in harbors and ports.

Most large harbors and ports are under the control of a harbor authority
and/or a vessel traffic system. Keep in contact with the authorities
should a forced movement of vessels be directed. On the other hand,
smaller ports may not be under the control of a harbor authority. In this
case, be sure you have enough time to move your vessel safely to deep
water.

Small boat owners may find it safest to leave their boat at the pier and
physically move to higher ground, particularly in the event of a locally-
generated tsunami. Severe weather conditions (rough seas outside of the
harbor) could present a greater hazard to small boats, so physically
moving yourself to higher ground may be the only option.

i. Contact the harbor authority before returning to port to verify that

conditions in the harbor are safe for navigation and berthing.
Potential Earthquake Hazards
1. Ground Shaking
Definitions: disruptive up,
down and sideways vibration
or movement of the ground
during an earthquake. (DOST-
PHIVOLCS,N.d.)

Effects: Damage, falling or

collapse structure resulted by
shaking of grounds. Ground
shaking is a hazard created by
earthquakes and at the same
time it can also be triggered for
other hazard such as Source: Hyatt Terraces Hotel (Online Image) n.d., Retirved May
liquefaction, landslide and 30, 2020,
https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/earthquake/earth
fires. quake-hazards

Ground shaking is measured in terms of the following:

a. Velocity
b. Acceleration
c. Frequency
d. Duration

2. Ground Rupture/ Ground Displacement

Definition: deformation on
the ground that marks the
intersection of the fault with
the earth’s surface (DOST-
PHIVOLCS,n.d.)
Ruptures occur along zones
of weakness, such as
preexisting faults or
fractures.
Effects: fissuring, displacement of the ground due to movement of the fault.
Characteristics of Ground Rupture
a. Length- It depends on theGroundmagnitude of6.5an
rupture caused by earthquake.
magnitude Earthquake
earthquake Leyte
last July 6, 2017
with 6.5 magnitudes and Source:
above will result to larger rupture.
Gasoline tank pops out (Online Image), Retrieved May 30,
b. Width- deformation along 2020,the length of ground rupture also largely
https://image.app.goo.gl/fb9Qi4nFs1V3Tfmp9

depend on the type of faulting

Two type of Ground Ruptures

a. Vertical Displacement- occurs when one side of the ground goes up or
down or both sides move with one side going up and the other going
down.
b. Horizontal Displacement- happens when there is lateral movement
from side to side; one side goes to left or right or both moves sideways in
different directions.

3. Liquefaction
Definitions:
transformation of the
behavior of a body of
sediments or soil
form to liquid form.
(DOST-PHIVOLCS,n.d.).
It is a process caused
by water pressure
which makes soil
more compact. It
decreases the Source:https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/
earthquake/earthquake-hazards
ground’s ability
to support structures.
4.
 5. Tsunami
Definition: series of
waves caused by an
earthquake under the
sea. (DOST-PHIVOLCS,n.d.).
Wave’s height could be
greater than 5 meters.
It is also known as
tidal waves.
Effect: flooding,
Source:https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/
coastal erosion;
earthquake/earthquake-hazards
drowning of people
and damage to properties
A tsunami event in the country happened last August 17, 1976, where a
magnitude 7.9 earthquake in Moro Gulf produced up to 9-meter high tsunamis
that devastated the southwest coast of Mindanao and left more than 3,000
people dead and at least 1,000 people are missing (DOST-PHIVOLCS,n.d.).

6. Earthquake-induced
landslide
Definition: down slope
movements of rocks and
other debris commonly
triggered by strong
shaking. It may include
soil, debris, and/ or
rocks. (DOST-PHIVOLCS,n.d.).
It may include soil,
debris and or rocks.

Rockslide at Brgy. Conalum, Argao, Cebu last

Effect: erosion, burial October 2013 during 7.2 magnitude Bohol and
blockage of road and Earthquake
rivers Source:https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/
earthquake/earthquake-hazards

7. Earthquake-Induced
ground subsidence
Definition: It is the sinking or settling of the ground surface due to various
causes, such as extraction of ground water and natural gas, mining and
earthquakes (DOST-PHIVOLCS, n.d.).

Effects: ground subsides; the structures on the surface can tilt or collapse
due to weakened foundation.

Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is a term used for reducing and preventing disaster
risks. It is founded on the principle that while hazards are inevitable, its adverse
effects like lost lives and/or destruction of property are not. There are steps that
we can do to ensure reduction of risks.

DRR actions can be political, technical, social and economic. Disasters are often
described as a result of the combination of several things: the exposure to a
hazard; the conditions of vulnerability that are present; and the insufficient
capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the potential negative consequences.

Disaster Impacts:
 ◆ loss of life
◆ Injury
◆ Disease
◆ other negative effects on human, physical, mental and social well-being,
◆ damage to property
◆ destruction of assets
◆ loss of services, social
◆ economic disruption and environmental degradation
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is the concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through
analysis and management of the causal factors of disasters. It leads to:
❖ reduced exposure to hazards
❖ lessening of vulnerability of people and assets
❖ effective management of land and the environment
❖ improved preparedness for adverse events Disaster risk reduction usually requires long-term
planning across sectors and must be integrated into general national and regional development
strategies.
DRR strategies usually begin with plans for assessing the:
(a) Hazards and risks that threaten the target area,
(b) Extent of harm that would occur to communities and infrastructure,
(c) Vulnerable people’s capacities to cope with and recover from possible disasters (Ochoa, 2018).
Key Principles of DRRM
The key principles of DRR justify why certain changes have to be made and explain the urgency of
creating a DRRM plan. Key principles should be able to make people realize why disaster plans
must be a priority in every community especially those that are vulnerable to hazards. All DRRM are
created on the following premises:
1. Development can either increase or decrease disaster risk. When development takes place, disaster
risk is always a threat but it can be avoided if localities have effective and functional disaster
prevention and mitigation plans.
2. DRRM policies, laws, and regulations can save lives if properly and strictly implemented in the
community. Action is the key component of DRRM. Policies, laws, and regulations are useless if it
is not properly implemented. Earthquake drills, fire drills, lock-up drills are very important not only
in schools but also in the community because the community is the front liner of DRRM. The
ultimate purpose of DRRM is to save lives and properties.
3. The main objective of DRRM is to build a resilient community. If community members are well
prepared and equipped with sufficient knowledge, the impact of disaster can be lessened (Rimando,
R. E. 2015).