Can You Safely Reside On A Fault Line? Exploring The Risks And Benefits

What is the safe distance from a fault line? As of January 18, 2021, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) suggests refraining from any construction activities within a 10-meter-wide zone, with 5 meters on each side of the fault trace. This designated 10-meter-wide no-build zone around a fault is considered the recommended safety measure to mitigate seismic risks. This precautionary guideline helps reduce the potential dangers associated with earthquakes and ensures the safety of structures and individuals in proximity to fault lines.

A fault line is a geological feature that allows blocks of the Earth’s crust to move in relation to one another. This movement can take place at varying speeds; it may happen suddenly and violently, resulting in an earthquake, or it may occur gradually and subtly, referred to as “creep.” The length of faults can span a wide range, from just a few millimeters to thousands of kilometers. When there is a fault line, it essentially acts as a boundary or interface where the Earth’s tectonic plates interact, and the way these plates move along the fault line can have significant consequences for the landscape and seismic activity in the region.