What went wrong in LPU's quake evacuation?

They had to evacuate twice before they did it right.

Students were asked to go back inside the campus, only minutes after the university felt a sudden quake.

ALARMED Students were asked to leave the campus premises after movement at the Manila Trench reverberated an Intensity 4 quake in Metro Manila. Photos courtesy of the LPU Independent Sentinel

INTRAMUROS, Philippines — When a 6.1 magnitude earthquake had hit Batangas last April 11, the unexpected tremor reached wide to Metro Manila and Central Luzon. (READ: 6.1 magnitude quake jolts LPU)

This was caused by a fractured plate in the Manila Trench, located at the West Philippine Sea and spanning across Luzon.

Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) is one of the schools in Intramuros standing near Manila Bay, an area that is vulnerable to tsunami once the anticipated 7.2 earthquake arrives. (READ: How prepared are you for the "Big One"?)

But students and professors were quick to express their frustration as the school seemed unprepared to carry out a swift disaster management plan.

Here's what happened inside the campus, in approximate timestamps:

• 1:33 PM - First evacuation. Students walked out immediately as professors noted that the ground was shaking and objects were wobbling

• 1:44 PM - A few minutes after the first evacuation, students were asked to go back inside the campus to resume classes

• 2:02 PM - Second evacuation. The school switched on the alarm and the security guards escorted students outside. Lyceans occupied Muralla street and Real street

• 2:30 PM - Classes resume. Other universities like National University, Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, Dela Salle University, Philippine Women's University, and Far Eastern University had suspended their classes

• 4:00 PM - LPU announced that classes are suspended

EVACUATION Students flee the building as tension rises over the earthquake warning

"Yung unang labas ng mga estudyante, instinct na nila yun dahil sa naramdaman nila," said Manuel Demalata Jr., officer in charge of the Security Office.

He recounted how the security personnel operated during the evacuation.

"Nandito ako [sa opisina] gumagawa ako ng report. Nararamdaman ko nag-swing yung upuan ko. Tapos tumayo ako, lalong lumalakas kaya hanggang makarating ako dyan sa labas. Nagsabi ako sa mga... naglilindol ba?" he said.

(I was inside the office doing a report. I felt my chair swing. Then I stood up; the shaking grew stronger until I got outside. I asked the others, "Is there an earthquake?")

He adds: "Pagkatapos noon, nakita namin yung mga estudyante nagbababaan na. Sabi ko, bilang for security [and] safety, sabi ko sige alalayan niyo muna kasi lalabas yan."

(After that, we saw the students leave. I told the other security personnel, for the sake of security and safety, that we should assist them because all of them will go outside the school)

The designated evacuation areas, according to Demalata, are the streets of Real and Legazpi. Real street is located beside the university, and Legazpi street is an empty space behind the university.

Demalata mentioned that during that time, they were still waiting for instructions from the management.

Students eventually went back inside the campus when the tremor ended. But only a few minutes after that, the school decided to turn on its emergency alarms and evacuate the students for the second time around.

The security office and the Buildings and Grounds office conducted an inspection of the campus to know its status, if hazardous cracks developed on the walls after the earthquake or not.

When they confirmed that there were no structural damages, classes resumed.

Disappointed, frustrated

In an interview with two professors who refused to be named, they said that the students and professors took the initiative to evacuate.

CROWDED Staircases fill up as students walk out of their classrooms

"Wala man lang ring para palabasin tayo diba. Kaya nagkanya-kanya na lang talaga... nag-initiative na lang na bumaba," one of them said.

(There were no emergency alarms to tell us to leave the school premises. We took the initiative to go out)

The professor added: "Kasi nagdi-drill naman tayo tapos hindi naman ina-alarm. Anong kwenta naman nung drill tapos hindi naman nagawa yun. Then after noon, nung tapos na yung lindol, tsaka tayo pinalikas."

(We have been doing earthquake drills and yet they failed to sound the alarm. What is the use of conducting drills if they don't execute it? Then when the ground stopped shaking, that's when they evacuated us)

The other professor, who was catching up on lectures due to the numerous class suspensions, narrated what happened when they felt the sudden tremor.

"Nakikita na namin, may mga lumalabas na nga. Tapos sabi nila 'Ma'am Labas Na Tayo.' [Sabi ko] 'Sandali lang hindi kayo magkakasya paglabas kasi ipit eh.' Hindi mo naman alam gagawin mo. Wala namang bell."

(We saw that students and professors are leaving the classrooms. My students told me, 'Ma'am, let's go.' [I said] 'Wait, it'll be difficult because the halls are crowded.' I did not know what to do. We did not hear an emergency alarm)

John Daniel Layno, president of the LPU Environmental Society, shared his thoughts on why the students were asked to go back inside.

"Yun nga yung pinagtataka ko eh, tsaka bakit hindi sinuspend kaagad. Kasi dito prone tayo sa tsunami. Kasi... nandito tayo sa Manila Bay. May chances na pwede tayong ma-wash out."

(That's what I was wondering about, and why they didn't suspend immediately. Because we are vulnerable in case a tsunami occurs since we are right beside Manila Bay. There is a chance that we could be affected)

He added: "Safety na ng tao yun eh. Dapat sinuspend na nila or hindi na nila pinabalik dito. Risky kasi pag pinabalik mo pa dito tapos may lindol nanaman. Kasi lagi namang may aftershock after ng first earthquake."

(It's about the safety of the students. They should have suspended the classes, or they should not have let them go inside the campus. It's risky if they went back inside because it's probable that there will be tremors again. There are always aftershocks when an earthquake strikes)

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), as early as 1:43 p.m., reported that Manila City will experience an Intensity IV tremor.

©The Pink Merman