ReliefWeb

By Joanna P. Diaz-Sabado

SAN FERNANDO CITY, April 23 (PIA) -- After a 6.1 magnitude earthquake jolted the provinces of Zambales, Pampanga, the rest of Central Luzon, the National Capital Region and nearby regions yesterday at 5:11 p.m., the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Region 1 (RDRRMC-1) raised the blue alert status of its Operations Center.

The alert status was raised effective 7 p.m. Monday.

In a memorandum released by RDRRMC-1 Chairperson Melchito Castro, quick response teams in the region are advised to be on standby for possible deployment.

“We alerted our response teams from the different member agencies and provincial DRRMs in case the NDRRMC and the regional council in Central Luzon will request for augmentation,” Castro said.

“We cannot predict the occurrence of earthquakes, thus I urge the public not to spread disinformation which causes undue alarm and panic to more people,” he added.

He reiterated some basic reminders like preparedness, being alert, doing the “drop, cover and hold’ and the immediate evacuation to an open and safe place outside for any possible aftershocks after.

Banking on preparedness, the Office of Civil Defense continues to capacitate local government units and government agencies to avoid casualties for any natural or human-induced hazard.

Earlier today at 1:37 p.m., a 6.5 magnitude earthquake also hit the provinces of Catanduanes, Masbate, Albay, and Sorsogon.

San Julian in Eastern Samar was the epicenter of the tectonic earthquake. (JNPD/JDS/PIA-1, La Union)