The National Disaster Risk-Reduction and – Management Council on Friday announced that the fourth-quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill will be held on Nov. 10 and will focus on an 8.3 magnitude earthquake with tsunami scenario in the coastal communities.
The event, to be held at 9 a.m., is part of the continuing effort to strengthen earthquake preparedness.
The NDRRMC added that the Parañaque City government would host the ceremonial pressing of the button and the full-scale exercise.
The activity is also in support of the observance of World Tsunami Day on Nov. 5.
The NDRRMC said the exercise would test Parañaque City’s contingency plan for tsunami; demonstrate the evacuation procedures in the local community and services specifically for the fisherfolk and vulnerable groups, as well as the combined efforts for water search-and-rescue and air rescue capabilities of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine Air Force, including the interoperability of their communications systems.
Meanwhile, the NDRRMC reiterated its call for academic institutions, businesses, private and government offices, and the public to strictly observe minimum public health standards when conducting evacuation drills.
It noted that as in the third-quarter NSED, organizations may opt not to conduct evacuation drills if the circumstances do not permit it.
The event will be live-streamed through the Facebook pages of Civil Defense PH and NDRRMC.
This quarter’s earthquake drill is the second face-to-face drill since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, after the conduct of the third-quarter NSED on Sept. 8. (PNA)
