Note: US GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY PREDICTS A 6.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE WILL HIT PHILIPPINE PLATES TONIGHT.PLS BE CALM & ALERT. This txt msg is from Hawaii state emergency preparedness office. Pls pass (no harm in being prepared) lets pray dis will not happen.

This was the text message, which was being forwarded to me and even my family members since this morning. In fact, even the people were following in Twitter are tweeting about it. My mom called our house just to check on us!

According to an interview conducted by DZMM with Director Renato Solidum of PHIVOLCS (Philippine Institute of Volcanology & Seismology), there is no truth to this text message. He also added that there is no such thing as US Geological Society and Hawaii State Emergency Preparedness Office. In fact, the US counterpart of PHIVOLCS is the US Geological Survey not Society. You could view the YouTube video I have uploaded. Dir. Renato Solidum also noted that it there is neither instrument nor technology that can predict when and where an earthquake can occur. Solidum states that there is really a possibility that an earthquake this massive (6.8 magnitude as noted on the text message) can occur in the Philippines. But the thing is, no one can determine when would this occur (of course except the psychics.). Solidum adviced the public not to forward the text messages.

According to the USGS website, neither the USGS nor Caltech nor any other scientists have ever predicted a major earthquake. And, probabilities of an earthquake shouldn’t be confused with the prediction of a particular event.

Anyway, better be safe everyone!

UPDATE:

14 May 2008
2:00 PM
PHIVOLCS CLARIFICATION
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology would like to inform the general public that the text message currently circulating in the Philippines about a prediction by a certain “US Geological Society” of a “magnitude 6.8 earthquake to hit Philippine Plates tonight”, purportedly issued by the “Hawaii State Emergency Preparedness Office” IS A HOAX. This hoax started the day after the Magnitude 7.9 China earthquake of May 12, 2008.

There is no organization currently capable of predicting an earthquake which is very specific in terms of magnitude and the date. There is no “US Geological Society”, only US Geological SURVEY but this agency does not issue immediate predictions especially for areas outside the United States of America. Past experiences show that rumors of a predicted strong earthquake are common after disastrous earthquakes in nearby countries.

The Philippines can be affected by a major earthquake but as to when exactly this would happen cannot be predicted and what is important is we continue to practice earthquake preparedness and risk reduction measures. via [PHIVOLCS Website]

Here’s TV Patrol’s feature on the rumors spreading thru text message about a 6.8 magnitude earthquake striking the Philippines tonight.