Environment : West Valley Fault News Update

This is a follow-up on the last post I did "How an earthquake fault line actually looked?" As mentioned in that post, research and study are being made, and corollary to that is the finding based on a recent report on a study made by the Quezon City local government and Philvocs on the West Valley Fault   (which traverses a big portion on the real estate map of the city). Both groups involved in the study said that the area is "unlivable" as they renew the warning on living along the West Valley Fault. 

Let me sidetrack a while on the subject. Why my fascination on posting about earthquakes and faultlines? With the recent consecutive earthquakes (as recent as yesterday in Masbate) and the recurring movements of the different fault lines and trenches in the country I think it is just timely to inform  the readers of what's going on and why this is happening. This is not to sow fear or panic but explain to people the scientific cause and effect of this natural phenomenon. Preparedness coupled with a clear understanding of earthquakes and fault lines will be a big help if ever they happen. 

Fear sometimes is a product of ignorance and I think  giving the people the facts is a way of eradicating fear of the unknown. That these earthquakes happening now are not prelude to the "Finale" on December 21, 2012 as predicted in the ancient Mayan Calendar ( now that is sowing fear!!!)

I guess living in Marikina Valley between two fault lines, and living in a subdivision less than a kilometer away from the West Valley fault is also a big contributing factor why I always tackle the subject, so my interest on the subject is understandable. On a bigger scale the Philippine lies between two tectonic plates so I guess we( Pinoys) all ought to understand this phenomenon and learn to live with it. 

It was just coincidental that my very first blog post was about the Geohazard Maps of Metro Manila which is about fault lines. I just thought then that people should be aware of this not commonly disseminated information on fault lines. And that this would interest people specially if it concerns the safety of the property they will be buying. Sort of  a "Caveat emptor" Latin for "Let the buyer beware."

Here's the news update on the West Valley Fault :

The West Valley Fault

The West Valley Fault - Quezon City Section

Marikina Fault Line System :

http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/images/IEC/phivolcs_mvfs1997.pdf

Please click link below for the news update on West Valley Fault : 

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/26093/its-unlivable-qc-phivolcs-study-renews-warnings-over-west-valley-fault

Source :  http://www.interaksyon.com/ 

Related Link :

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/72980/video--if-it-moves-west-valley-fault-will-produce-quake-as-powerful-as-central-visayas-tremor

Environment : How does an earthquake fault line actually looked?

We read and hear  about earthquake fault lines but often times what we only see are representations of the fault line on maps as red lines or broken lines. We seldom see an actual photo of a fault line because  the physical gap, breach or trench on the surface of the earth had been filled up or covered with soil and plants due to the long passage of time after it occurred. Yesterday, a picture of the actual West Valley Fault or Marikina Fault Line  was put on the front cover of the Philippines Star. Scientists of Philvocs and Geosciences Australia are digging the actual trench/fault line for research and studies in relation to frequencies of  earthquakes in Metro Manila. Here's how an actual fault line or trench looks. (See second picture below)

West Valley Fault or  Marikina Fault Line

This is the Barangay Bagong Silangan, Quezon City portion of the Marikina Fault Line

Related Link :

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=782970&publicationSubCategoryId=63

       Picture Source :   http://www.philstar.com/Default.aspx?t=031842&t=15-27-21
       Map Source     :   GMA News TV