ASK USGS message

This is just a follow up post about the text message that is currently circulating the country.

This is an official statement from the information services of US Geological survey, united states of america.

May 14, 2008

Thank you for your request.

This information from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology & Seismology: 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. http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/news/PHIVOLCS%20Clarification.htmlIf you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us again.

Bob Kimmel

USGS Information Services

507 National CenterReston,

VA 20192703-648-5934

rakimmel@usgs.gov