By Danilo P. Padua, PhD
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked 10 provinces of southeastern Turkey, last Feb 6, 2023 is reminiscent of the July 16, 1990 tremor that hit Baguio and other cities and towns of the Philippines.
Based on the images flashed by international news broadcasts, the extent of the destruction in Turkey however is way much more than what Baguio experienced. Just looking at the widespread desolation will make one feel the anguish, the pain, the trauma and overflowing sympathy for the victims. It was the worst disaster that had befallen Turkey in more than a century, according to Turkish Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Aside from the flattening of several cities and towns, death toll was already reported to be more than 17,400 as of Thursday, Feb 9. Quake damage was so extensive that Pres. Erdogan declared a 3-month state emergency.
Photos of the destruction were eerily similar to the pictures of some Ukrainian cities leveled by the Russian army. This one is man-made, the other is caused by nature.
The quake also destroyed some cities in Syria while also rocking Lebanon, Israel and Egypt. The temblor was so strong, it was also felt in Denmark and Greenland.
PBBM was correct to send an 82-strong search and rescue team to help save lives in that country. The team arrived there on Thursday noon then immediately plunge to work the following day. They are part of more than 60 countries sending teams to that country. It is said that so far, we are the only Southeast Asian country to make that gesture.
Am quite sure, there are people who will not approve of that decision, saying that the money spent for the purpose could be used instead to improve the lot of the local poor. I can not fathom such skewed thinking even if the intention is very novel.
During the 1990 earthquake, we have seen foreign contingents came to our rescue. In La Trinidad, at least 2 foreign search and rescue teams (one from U.K. and I think the other was from the U.S.A.). More foreign teams were deployed in Baguio. They risked their lives for us. We were so grateful to them, of course. By sending a Philippine contingent to that quake-ravaged country, we are not only reciprocating what was done for us but showing to the world that we, as people, care for others too.
We can learn a thing or two from what is happening in Turkey at the moment. The calamity spurred Pres Erdogan to greatly emphasize the unity and solidarity of the Turkish people in times of disasters. He said that he will not leave anyone behind in the dispensation of help for the victims. In short, it doesn’t matter whatever is the political color or status in life of the victim. Help will be equally extended.
Compare this to what an official said when Typhoon Yolanda devastated Tacloban city way back in 2013 or 2014. The then city mayor asked for help from the national government. The answer was a pure hogwash, bereft of human sympathy: “Remember that you are a Romualdez, and the President is an Aquino.” The poor politician never recovered from that.
The quake in Turkey is a brute reminder for us to review our own preparedness for disasters like earthquake, implementation of our building code, people’s attitude towards disaster training, etc.
Are we prepared for those huge catastrophes?
We have been informed by PHIVOLCS that Baguio city is sitting on 4 major fault lines. There is a possibility then, according to experts, that a quake with the same or near the magnitude that hit the city in 1990 may again happen. How many buildings and houses are very near, or actually built over such lines? Or, how many buildings/houses are very near hills and mountains that could erode when a big quake batter the city (and for that matter La Trinidad) again? If human lives do not matter, then don’t do anything about it.
The study of DENR-CAR in the 1980’s show that many parts of the city are geologically unstable due to porous and highly permeable soil. Same is true to La Trinidad. Due to this, there are many Baguio-La Trinidad areas, that are greatly affected by seismic shaking resulting to landslides as always demonstrated time and again. Just take a stock of yearly landslides that happen in both Baguio and La Trinidad. Remember for instance the landslide that happened in Little Kibungan in La Trinidad in 2010 that took at least about 80 lives in one swoop?
I remember a Presidential Decree by then Pres F. Marcos Sr. about the establishment of the national preparedness program and directing local government executives to organize their disaster-preparedness plan. Are these in place?. There are now a huge number of “high-rise” buildings that are built in seemingly precarious places. We do not like to experience the same tragedy that Turkey is enduring now.
By the way, in 2020, Turkey was also hit by another strong earthquake. They built thousands of homes for the victims, and delivered them within 3 years. In the case of Yolanda victims. It is about 10 years now since the typhoon occurred. Where are the homes? **
