The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Monday, Jan. 22, discussed hazards that may threaten Greater Metro Manila Area (GMMA) when the "Big One" occurred.
In an event titled "MAGHANDA: Communicating Hazards, Risks, and Early Warning for Policymakers," Phivolcs Science Research Specialist and Geologist Daniel Buhay said GMMA may have a 2.5 trillion-peso worth of economic losses if the "Big One" happened.
Buhay added that 37,000 fatalities and 605,000 "slight to life-threatening" injuries may be recorded based on the Risk Analysis Project of Phivolcs and the University of the Philippines, Diliman Institute of Civil Engineering (UPD ICE) in 2013.
Buhay explained that the movement of the West Valley Fault may generate the "Big One" at magnitude 7.2 with a "very destructive" impact at Intensity VIII.
Buhay added that liquefactions in Laguna de Bay and Marikina River as well as earthquake-induced landslides in mountainous areas particularly in Metro Manila and Rizal may also occur.
Buhay noted the West Valley Fault has a length of 100 kilometers traversing Bulacan, Rizal, Quezon City, Marikina City, Pasig City, Taguig City, Muntinlupa City, Laguna, and Cavite.
Moreover, Buhay said the movement of offshore trenches particularly the Manila Trench and Philippine Trench may generate a magnitude 8.0 earthquake with ground shaking intensities of VII and VIII in Luzon.