Public warned to stay away from fault zones

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!”

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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.