According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the so-called “Big One” — a major earthquake long predicted for the Philippines — may not be confined to Metro Manila or the famed West Valley Fault alone. The agency warns that the nearby Negros Trench off western Visayas is capable of producing a powerful quake, estimated at magnitude 8.2, which could severely impact the entire Negros Island.
The Negros Trench lies roughly 400 kilometres long, north-east of the Sulu Trench and west of Negros Island, and sits within the Sunda Plate in the southwestern Pacific.
If a shallow quake of that magnitude strikes, it could not only result in ground shaking across the island, but also trigger a tsunami that would affect the western coastlines of Negros and surrounding islands (such as Panay, Palawan or Zamboanga).
PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol emphasised the urgency: residents living along the sea should recognise natural warning signs of a tsunami — such as a very strong ground shaking that you cannot stand, a sudden unusual drop in sea level, or a roaring sound from the sea — and immediately move to high ground instead of stopping to take photos.
This alert comes at a time when seismic activity in the region has already gained attention: earlier this month, a magnitude 6.9 quake struck off the coast of Cebu.
While the primary concern for many has been the West Valley Fault beneath Metro Manila, this warning reminds that the geologic risk spans the archipelago — including Visayas. In short: the “Big One” might not be just over there, it could very well be “here.”