Children in schools across the Philippines participate in the Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill on March 9, 2023.
The quarterly conduct of the nationwide earthquake drills is an effort of the government to promote disaster preparedness and resilience among Filipinos. The government has been regularly holding earthquake drills in Metro Manila to prepare for the so-called “big one” or a worst-case scenario of an earthquake from the West Valley Fault.
The Philippines is situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a path along the Pacific Ocean characterized by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. (Photos by Jire Carreon)