PAGADIAN CITY POLICE JOIN EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI COMMEMORATION DAY

PCPS personnel in SAR uniform

Pagadian City Police personnel Headed by PSupt. Glenn Macario Dulawan participated in the Earthquake and Tsunami Commemoration Day at 07:30 O’clock in the morning on August 17, 2014 at Pajares Street, Barangay Santiago this City. The activity was sponsored by the Pagadian City Government and City Disaster Risk Management Counncil (CDRMC)

Vice Gov. Juan Regala and Mayor Romeo Pulmones leading the activity

Unveiling of the Marker

The activity was participated by Vice Governor Juan Regala, Mayor Romeo Pranza Pulmones, CILG Officer Mrs. Filomina Gadiano FSI Regie Olmedo and all departments of Pagadian City Local Government. The first part is a simultaneous Earthquake and Tsunami Drill  participated by different high school students, Barangay officials and residents of Barangay Kawit, Barangay San Pedro, Barangay Santiago and Barangay Sta Lucia. It was followed by the unveiling of the marker by Vice Governor Juan Regala and Mayor Romeo Pranza Pulmones. A program ensued highlighted by a testimony an Earthquake and Tsunami survivor, reenactment through dance by Malengas Dance ensemble, message by Mayor Pulmones and an inspiration message by Vice Governor Regala.

MORO GULF EARTHQUAKE TSUNAMI

Abstract:

The Philippines Archipelago is bounded by Major Tectonic Plate Boundaries and several Earthquake Generators within. As one of the countries along the Pacific Ring of Fire, over the years our country has experienced numerous Natural Disasters and one of them is the occurrence of Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruption.

Moro Gulf Earthquake-17 August 1976

A few minutes after the last stroke of midnight on August 17,1976, a violent earthquake occurred in the island of Mindanao (South of the Philippines) spawning a 20 feet tsunami with a peak velocity of  720km/hr devastated more that 700km of coastline bordering Moro Gulf in the North Celebes Sea. This offshore event generated at Cotabato Trench, a less prominent trench system in the Philippines, was the largest tsunamigenic earthquake to have occurred in Philippine History. It was an earthquake that resulted in massive destruction of properties and great loss of lives. The tsunami generated contributed immensely to the devastation. The cities and province of Cotabato took the brunt of the earthquake while the tsunami generated cast its doom on the provinces bordering Moro Gulf especially on the shores of Pagadian City in which coastal area was totally devastated by the Tsunami inundating 500 meters inland. Population density for this area has increased more than 200% from 1976. Majority of the 1976 earthquake registered in Pagadian City. According to surveys during the event, the tsunami was responsible for 85% of deaths, 65% of injuries.

The Event:

*At 12:11 AM of August 17, 1976, a major slippage of the Cotabato Trench caused a 7.9 magnitude earthquake at the Moro Gulf, South of Pagadian City.

*After about 20 minutes, the 30-second tremor generated series of waves called “tsunami” with the velocity of 720kph and inundated 500 meters inland, hitting 700 kilometers coastline in Mindanao. It resulted to damages to properties and infrastructures amounting to millions.

*Casualties in the whole Province of Zamboanga del Sur:

          Dead            -   1,440

          Injuries         -   7,701

          Missing         -   909

          Homeless      -   49,848

*Note: 95% of the casualties and damages were caused by tsunami in Pagadian City.