Philippines 'unprepared' if quake hits: government

15/05/2008 10:45:32

The Philippine government admits that it is not prepared to cope with the effects of a major earthquake like the recent one that struck China and caused major devastation.

As Shirley Escalante reports from Manila, the Philippine government, together with the private sector, has started a joint inspection of structures in the country to ensure that these can withstand earthquakes.

Deputy chief of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, Anthony Golez, says the Philippines' weak point in disaster response and management is in firefighting.

He says it simply does not have enough firetrucks, but government agencies have been upgrading their equipment.

A study by local scientists showed that a magnitude 7.8 earthquake may occur in the Philippines, which is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire.

The Philippines has earlier offered to send a medical team to China to help those affected by the recent quake.

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