Amid rising public curiosity and post-quake activity near fault zones in northern Cebu, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has reminded the public to ‘Stay Away from the Fault!’
Fault zones are not landmarks –they are danger zones.
The advisory was echoed by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) following the magnitude 6.9 offshore earthquake that struck last September 30, triggering fissures, structural damage, and heightened geohazard risks across affected communities.
The PHIVOLCS bulletin warns against approaching or building near fault traces and deformation zones, emphasizing that ground rupture –the fissuring and displacement of land due to fault movement– as this may cause catastrophic damage to homes, roads, and critical infrastructure.
The agency recommends a minimum five-meter avoidance zone from fault traces and deformation edges, saying that even seemingly stable ground may shift violently during aftershocks.
‘Avoid building houses or critical facilities directly on active faults,’ the advisory said.
The OCD has reinforced PHIVOLCS’ recommendations, deploying technical teams to Bogo City to assist in coordinated response efforts and hazard zone monitoring.
In its latest update, the OCD confirmed that its personnel are working alongside the Regional Incident Management Team to assess damage and ensure public safety.
A troubling trend has also been noted –residents and other curious individuals including so-called vloggers entering fault zones and inspecting damaged structures out of curiosity.
While some visits stem from genuine concern, authorities cautioned that such activities may interfere with scientific assessments and expose individuals to life-threatening risks.
To further evaluate geological risks, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) has deployed an eight-member team of geologists to conduct a Post-Disaster Geohazards Assessment across Cebu Province.
The team is focusing on karst terrains –limestone-rich areas prone to sinkholes and subsidence.
Last Friday, the MGB-7 issued a ‘Subsidence Threat advisory’ to the LGUs of Bogo, Medellin, San Remigio, Tabogon, and Daanbantayan concerning the new sinkholes and widening ground cracks in several areas.
Affected areas are expected to enforce access restrictions, safety cordons, and public warnings.
The MGB has also emphasized that human activities such as uncontrolled development and improper drainage can accelerate ground collapse in vulnerable areas.
Concerned citizens have also raised questions about the safety of evacuation sites, particularly those near fault lines or landslide-prone slopes.
The OCD and MGB assured the public that coordination with the National Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, and local government units is ongoing to ensure geologically-safe shelter locations.
PHIVOLCS continues to advise residents to prepare for possible strong aftershocks, avoid compromised structures, and rely only on verified information from official sources.