Disaster drills helped prevent more deaths in powerful Philippine earthquake

Years of disaster preparedness drills in the Philippines helped prevent a higher death toll when a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the southern part of the country, officials said Friday.

The offshore quake, which hit Monday near Sarangani province, killed 55 people and left 31 missing. It injured about 1,120 people and displaced over 45,000, with many still in emergency shelters.

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This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of earthquake preparedness and the value of regular disaster response drills.

Videos shared on social media showed chaotic scenes, including school flag-raising ceremonies disrupted by the shaking ground. Students were seen screaming but following instructions to stay calm and seated, with some teachers admonishing them to remain still. One viral video showed grade-schoolers on a visibly swaying school ground, with a nearby shed collapsing.

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It’s good that our efforts to educate people on what to do when earthquakes hit somehow paid off.

Mahayahay elementary school reported no injuries, stating the incident highlighted the importance of preparedness. Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, noted that drills helped people anticipate and brace for the strong tremors. He also mentioned the fortunate timing of the quake, occurring just before work and classes were set to begin indoors.

However, concerns were raised about buildings that collapsed despite the quake's magnitude, suggesting potential issues with adherence to construction standards. Ednar Dayanghirang, director of the Office of Civil Defense, emphasized that regular drills, including incident management courses for principals and the appointment of disaster-response teams, significantly reduced casualties by preventing stampedes and equipping staff with crucial knowledge.

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We required all school principals to take one-day courses on incident management, then they appointed disaster-response teams among teachers to deal with earthquakes, tsunamis. They listened and they learned.