‘Move Out Of Geohazard Areas’

[Medic Mike]

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

RESIDENTS of landslide-prone areas, including those living in villages in Bohol where tension cracks were found, were advised to move to safer ground when typhoon Yolanda enters the country tomorrow.

Al Emil Berador, chief geologist of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7, said it would not be safe for families to return to their homes in areas that were hit the hardest by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake, since the risks of landslide and flooding are high.

The MGB 7 identified 19 Cebu City barangays that are highly susceptible to landslides and five barangays that are prone to floods. In Mandaue City, seven barangays were classified as flood-prone.

A total of 107 barangays in Central Visayas were included in the list of hazard-prone areas.

During the AGIO Forum yesterday, Berador urged local government units (LGus) to evacuate residents that may be at risk when the heavy rains come, particularly those in Bohol.

He also urged LGUs to use geohazard maps and other available information to prepare for calamities.

“Earthquake-affected areas in Bohol face the highest risk. When there’s heavy rain in areas where there are tension cracks, landslides could occur,” he said, adding that areas with fractures, steep slopes and hilly areas are most susceptible.

Berador gave the same advice to families living near the sinkhole in Barangay Poblacion I in Tagbilaran City. Aftershocks can cause the ground to collapse further and may put the lives of people in the area in danger, he said.

Landslides

In Bohol, nine barangays in Duero town were rated by MGB 7 as highly susceptible to landslides. These are Barangays Angilan, Bangwalog, Danao, Imelda, Lobogon, San Antonio, San Pedro, Cansuhay and Anibongan.

Areas hit by the earthquake in Tagbilaran City and the towns of Baclayon, Corella, Cortes, Albuquerque, Panglao, Dauis, Loon, Calape, Catigbian, Balilihan, Batuan, Sagbayan and Carmen are also at risk for possible rain-induced geohazards like landslides and flooding.

In Cebu City, Barangays Lusaran, Binaliw, Guba, Pungol Sibugay, Sudlon II, Sudlon I, Sinsin, Buhisan, Pamutan, Sapangdaku and Adlaon were classified as landslide-prone areas.

Flood-prone

Barangays identified as flood-prone are Kasambagan, Kinasangan, Labangon, Mabolo and Bonbon in Cebu City and Subangdaku, Mantuyong, Umapad, Opao, Alang-Alang, Guizo and Paknaan in Mandaue City.

Berador said MGB continues to monitor the sinkholes in Bohol to ensure the safety of nearby families.

Some 100 sinkholes have been recorded in Bohol since the earthquake last Oct. 15.

In Tagbilaran City, 200 families were evacuated when the MGB released a geohazard threat advisory last Oct. 28, shortly after the ground collapsed and a sinkhole appeared.

Berador explained that sinkholes occur when the ground collapses in limestone areas due to intense ground movement.

He said sinkholes and caves are common in Cebu and Bohol because 80 percent of these islands are made of limestone.