3 Cebu Fault Lines Discovered by Volcanologists

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Last month, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) introduced the information that Cebu has three probable fault line which could be very dangerous and cause a series of earthquakes in the island province.

Phivolcs supervising science research specialist, Jeffrey Perez, did a presentation before the Provincial Board (PB) of Cebu where he identified overhead satellite images of the possible locations of the three fault lines in its hazard map in the interior parts of south and central Cebu.

Perez wasn’t able to give the exact locations of the possible faults, but said that the two traces of the fault lines were in the interior parts of the south, stationed opposite each other, and another is located somewhere in Central Cebu. Also, based on the Cebu provincial map, when they refer to ‘Central Cebu’ it includes the Cebu Metropolian area and its neighboring cities of Talisay, Lapu-Lapu-, Mandaue, and Danao while also spanning to the near mountainous areas near the boundary of Cebu City, Toledo City, and Balamban Town.

Meanwhile, the interior part of Southern Cebu is made up of the towns of Alcoy, Ginatilan, Boljoon, Oslob, and Alegria.

Phivolcs also said that there were no traces of fault lines in the north part of Cebu, but this information does not particularly make this area safe as the locality of that area can still be strongly impacted by a quake from the other fault lines.

Perez and Phivolcs has urged the leaders of the island province to prepare and be prepares for future ruptures of the fault lines.

PB Member Jose Ribomapil Holganza Jr. asked Perez if there is a device that can pinpoint the exact location of the faults, Perez answered by saying there are geographical instruments which can be used to spot the location but the instruments are expensive.

He then declared that they would search for aerial photographs so that they can clearly identify the exact locations of the fault lines. Along with this information, Phivolcs is also studying the strength that the faults will be able to make in the future.

During the presentation, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, was already planned to meet with the officers of the Provincial Heritage Commission to have a discussion of the immediate ways to restore and repair the damaged churches in southern Cebu from the 7.2 magnitude earthquake which hit Cebu and Bohol also last month.

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