PARADOXICAL
The faith chroniclesThursday, June 11, 2026
Quick Lessons from the GenSan Quake
Quick Lessons from the GenSan Quake
Experiencing earthquake during the time of social media gives us an advantage of seeing blow by blow accounts without using one word. It's amazing how a lot of people can have enough presence of mind to document such a terrifying thing as it happens.
Here are some of the lessons learned so far based on our vicarious experience of the Intensity 7.8 earthquake that struck General Santos City and thereabouts on June 8, 2026 through social media--sadly on the first day of classes of schoolchildren.
- Wide open spaces are essential. It is where people instinctively run to for safety and where they can build tent cities.
- With shaking that strong, it is best to sit down on the ground or drop on all fours instead of trying to remain standing.
- Building substandard structures is simply criminal--and doubly so when building in a known earthquake-prone area. (The sight of an Iglesia ni Cristo church standing unperturbed side by side a Jollibee building crashing to the ground drives home the message in a way no words can.)
- Damage to medical institutions would mean grappling with the unfortunate sight of patients being brought outside the building.
- Large trees for shade are essential, especially if the weather is hot.
- In case of rain, there should be tents available, if there are no other safe and sturdy structures to run to.
- In a big city, the water source could be cut off. There should be alternative sources of potable water.
- In a big city, the electricity could be cut off. Although not immediately life-threatening unless in hospital settings, this deprivation further intensifies the suffering of survivors.
- Food supply could be cut off, so restoring the public market or creating a new makeshift one is urgent. Displaced individuals and families would have to rely on ready-to-eat food packs and dole outs from outside.
- It is good to have a stock of canned goods, bottled water, and easy-to-cook food at home, reserved just for this emergency situation--provided they can be easily retrieved (together with an emergency Go Bag) when disaster strikes.
- Those who are on maintenance medicine will need to procure their meds somewhere.
- In case of a tsunami advisory, coastal towns need a higher ground to run to, as pre-agreed upon, preferably with proper provisions.
- Despite regular earthquake drills, people will panic when the real thing strikes, especially a 7.8 temblor. Frightened individual can't help but scream and shout, putting everyone else further feeling on edge. But without regular earthquake drills, the panicked reactions would surely be much worse.
- Individuals who are hypertensive and/or prone to panicking are most vulnerable. Those who are merely having panic attacks may be rushed to a cool dark place to calm down.
- Those who faint or get dizzy are often the ones needing wheelchairs, stretchers, and ambulance services. But obviously the top priority is rescuing and treating those who are actually injured.
- Retrieving the bodies of the dead is another major matter altogether.
- Even in the face of widespread devastation, looting might happen in places where there ae considerable amount of cash, food, or other resources.
- Crashing buildings produce dust and aerosol that people should stay away from.
- Fire might also break out in devastated structures.
- One wonders how everyone is coping with the trauma. Do they even have access to basic psychological first aid? Ordinary people must be trained in it instead of waiting forever for professional help.
- It is in tent cities and other mass evacuation places that local governments and NGOs can extend help the most and offer aid immediately. But what if the rescuers are themselves victims or casualties?
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