MANILA, Philippines — Following two destructive earthquakes in southern part of the country whose damages to properties were estimated to be in billions of pesos, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology once again raised the alarm on the possibility of a strong 7.1 magnitude quake may hit Metro Manila and suburbs.

And with it, Philvolcs once again returned to the fastest and most reliable mode of communication, the social media, although, this has accordingly caused undue stress and panic to some netizens.

Through FB and Twitter accounts, social media came awash anew with

PHIVOLCS warning the public on the possibility of the high magnitude earthquake that could bring severe damage to property and lives to Filipinos living along the fault zone.

It says Metro Manila is located within “the 100-kilometer-long fault system, which passes through various cities and provinces which includes Bulacan, Quezon City, Marikina, Pasig, Makati, Taguig, Muntinlupa, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna, may cause a 7.1 magnitude quake” anytime.

A government agency in-charge of earthquakes in the country estimates that over 30,000 individuals may die and over 100,000 may be injured.

And “in order to speed up the evacuation of residents and the rescue operations, the MMDA has divided Metro Manila into four quadrants

thus:

North

– Caloocan,

– Valenzuela

– Quezon City

– San Juan

– Mandaluyong

East

– Pasig

– Marikina

West

– Manila

– Malabon

– Navotas

South

– Las Piñas

– Makati

– Muntinlupa

– Parañaque

– Pateros

– Taguig

– Pasay

Aside from the four quadrants mentioned above, the MMDA also designates operation centers and staging areas which will also serve as evacuation camps for affected residents:

North

– Veterans Memorial Golf Course

– University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman

East

– LRT-2 Santolan Depot

– Marikina Boys Town

– Red Cross Marikina

– Ultra Pasig

West

– Intramuros Golf Course

South

– Villamor Air Base Golf Course

MMDA also noted that athletic fields, sport arenas and memorial parks as well as churches and gyms that will be designated by LGUs will be used as evacuation centers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces and cities.

The Metro Manila’s main waterways, the Pasig River will also serve as an alternate route for rescue and relief personnel in the event that bridges in the metropolis are destroyed by the quake. (FB/IAMIGO/CNS)