The scenes of 2012 movie flashed back on my mind, when the quake occurred last Monday before noontime. I was comfortably sitting on my chair when I felt a gradual swaying motion. In just a split of a second, it became a 6.9 magnitude jolt which lasted for about 15-30 seconds.
I could hear the grinding sound of the office partitions like teeth of an angry animal looking for a prey. Furniture began to dance like having feet of its own. Suspended objects did their sway too. I kept telling myself, “The building is well-built and can withstand a major quake.” I whispered a little prayer, hoping it would not disintegrate and eventually collapse.
Everybody was in panic. I see worried faces around. I, myself was worried too. Some colleagues decided to take the stairs to get out from the five-storey building. Some decided to stay foot waiting for the tremor to subside. Well and good. No major injuries and material devastation occurred.
When the tremors subsided, everybody busied themselves calling their families and sending messages to check their whereabouts. I stayed calm. I decided to contact mine at a later time to avoid the network traffic. I know deep inside they’re safe.
The surroundings became monotonous. But my heart continues to beat profoundly. I tried to breathe normally and regain my composure. I tried to be sane in an insane situation.
When everything settles down, a young lady from out of nowhere came, peeping at the door and catching her breath. She was trembling. She uttered that waters already invaded the streets downtown. She must be paranoid about the text message circling around, about a tsunami scare. She probably had magnified the rumors running around out of fear. Earlier, the authorities raised a tsunami alert of struck areas.
The lady stirred the office again. Everybody rushed to inform their families and relatives to stay on higher grounds. How reliable was the lady’s information?
From the window of the building where we stayed, I could see people running and screaming. The news must have reached them too. There was panic around the city. There were vehicles strucked on the streets. The traffic got worse.
We monitored the news if indeed the rumors were true, only to find out that it was a false alarm. My God! How irresponsible the person was. He circulated the wrong information which caused panic and scare all over the city. He should be exiled elsewhere.
It was February 6, 2012 Monday. A day everyone would not dare to remember.
