Millions of Filipinos now live and work in condominiums and office towers in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao. Most earthquake advice is written for houses, but a quake on the 30th floor feels and plays out very differently. This guide covers what's different about high-rises, what to do before, during and after a quake, and what to ask your building administration.
Why a high-rise feels different
Tall buildings are designed to flex rather than stay rigid. Flexing absorbs energy, and it's part of how they survive strong shaking. But it means that in a high-rise:
- Upper floors move more. The higher you are, the more the building sways, and the stronger the shaking feels compared with people on the ground.
- Shaking lasts longer. A building can keep swaying after the ground has stopped.
- Even distant quakes can be felt. Large earthquakes produce slow, long-period ground motion that travels far and matches the natural sway of tall buildings.
Metro Manila is especially prone to this. The city sits on a deep basin of soft sediments, which can amplify long-period shaking. During the April 2019 Central Luzon earthquake, researchers documented a 53-storey building in Binondo spilling water from its top, more than 80 km from the epicenter, while nearby low-rise buildings reported no damage. PHIVOLCS now runs a project to predict long-period ground motion in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu, because of its importance for high-rise safety.
Swaying isn't the same as failing
Noticeable sway is frightening, but on its own it doesn't mean your building is in trouble. The warning signs come after the shaking. See "Signs your building may be damaged" below.
Are Philippine condos built for earthquakes?
Buildings in the Philippines are designed under the National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP). Almost the entire country, including Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao, is in Seismic Zone 4, the code's highest seismic zone. Only Palawan (except Busuanga), Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are in Zone 2.
Seismic design standards have been updated over the decades. A tower built recently should be designed to stricter standards than one from several decades ago. Code compliance also depends on proper construction and maintenance. If your building is older, or has had major renovations, it's reasonable to ask whether a structural assessment has been done.
Location matters too. Check whether your building is near an active fault, like the West Valley Fault, or on ground prone to liquefaction. Our guide shows how to check any address with HazardHunterPH.
Before an earthquake: prepare your unit
- Secure tall and heavy things. Anchor bookshelves, cabinets and wardrobes to the wall, and strap down TVs, water dispensers and the refrigerator. In a swaying high-rise, unsecured furniture slides and topples.
- Rethink your bed. Don't sleep under heavy frames, shelves or large windows.
- Know two ways down. Walk both fire exit stairwells from your floor, and find your building's assembly area.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by your bed. Broken glass and dark stairwells are common after a quake.
- Keep a go-bag near your door, plus water for at least three days. Water pumps may stop working if the power goes out.
- Plan for anyone who can't use stairs. If you live with elderly or disabled family members, tell your building administration now, before an emergency.
- Join your building's drills, including the Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drills many buildings take part in.
During the shaking
- Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Get under a sturdy table or desk and hold on. If there's no table, crouch against an interior wall and protect your head and neck.
- Move away from windows, glass and exterior walls. In a high-rise, the biggest dangers are breaking glass, falling objects and sliding furniture.
- Stay where you are. Don't run to the stairwell, lobby or balcony while the building is moving. PHIVOLCS advises staying inside a sturdy building during the shaking.
- Don't use the elevator. If you're already in one, press the buttons for all floors and get out at the first floor where the doors open.
- Expect noise and alarms. Creaking, rattling, fire alarms and sprinklers going off are all common, even without a fire.
Stuck in an elevator?
Stay calm. Use the emergency intercom or alarm button to contact building staff, and wait for help. Don't try to force the doors open or climb out. Elevators have safety brakes, and rescue teams know how to free trapped passengers.
After the shaking stops
- Check yourself and others for injuries. Put on shoes before you walk around.
- Check for hazards: the smell of gas, sparking wires or water leaks. If you smell gas, don't use switches or flames. Leave and tell building staff.
- Listen to your building administration. Many towers announce instructions over the PA system. Follow their evacuation call.
- If you evacuate, use the stairs. Bring your go-bag, keep to one side, and don't push. Move to the assembly area, away from the building's glass facade.
- Expect aftershocks. If one hits while you're in the stairwell, stop, crouch and protect your head.
- Don't use elevators until building engineers have inspected and cleared them.
- Don't go back in until the building has been declared safe, especially after strong shaking.
- Text instead of calling to keep phone lines free, and check official updates from PHIVOLCS.
Signs your building may be damaged
Leave right away, and report the damage to building management, if you notice:
- Large or diagonal cracks in columns, beams or load-bearing walls, or crushed or exposed concrete and steel bars
- Doors and windows that suddenly jam or no longer close, or floors that feel tilted
- Separation between floors, stairs or walls, or new gaps at joints
- Falling plaster or debris, or unusual creaking that continues after the shaking
Hairline cracks in plaster or paint are common and often only cosmetic, but let a qualified engineer make that call.
Living in a bayside or coastal condo?
Towers along Manila Bay, the Cebu coastline and other shores face one more hazard: tsunamis. If you feel strong or long shaking near the coast, or PHIVOLCS issues a tsunami warning, move inland and to high ground. If you can't reach high ground in time, the upper floors of a sturdy reinforced-concrete building are a last-resort option. Read our tsunami safety guide for the warning signs.
Questions to ask your building administration
| Ask about | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Structural assessment | Has the building been assessed by a structural engineer, and when? Important for older buildings. |
| Evacuation plan | Which stairwells to use, where the assembly area is, and how instructions are announced. |
| Elevator protocol | Do elevators have seismic sensors, and who inspects them after a quake? |
| Backup power and water | How long generators and water supply last if the city power goes out. |
| Drills | How often residents practice, and whether there's a plan for those who can't use stairs. |
Open the live map, search your city, and switch on Active faults to see what's nearby.
Frequently asked questions
Should I run outside during an earthquake if I live in a condo?
No. Stay inside, Drop, Cover, and Hold On away from windows, and evacuate by the stairs only after the shaking stops, if your building administration instructs it or you see serious damage.
Is it normal for a high-rise to sway during an earthquake?
Yes. Tall buildings are designed to flex, and they can sway noticeably even from distant quakes. Swaying alone doesn't mean the building is failing.
Can I use the elevator after an earthquake?
No. Use the stairs until building engineers have inspected and cleared the elevators.
What should I do if I'm in an elevator when an earthquake hits?
Press all the floor buttons, get out at the first floor where the doors open, and if you're stuck, use the intercom or alarm and wait for help.
Are condos in the Philippines designed for earthquakes?
They're designed under the National Structural Code of the Philippines, and most of the country, including Metro Manila and Cebu, is in its highest seismic zone. Ask your administration about structural assessments, especially for older buildings.
Related: the complete earthquake safety guide, how to get earthquake alerts on your phone, and earthquake myths vs. facts.
Sources: PHIVOLCS: Long-Period Ground Motion and Seismic Safety of High-rise Buildings in the Philippines; PHIVOLCS public safety guidance (as reported in Philippine media, October 2025); National Structural Code of the Philippines 2015 (seismic zoning); JpGU 2022 conference abstract on long-period ground motion in Metro Manila during the 2019 Central Luzon earthquake; Tokyo Metropolitan Government disaster prevention guidance (elevators). This guide is general information. For your building, follow your administration's emergency plan and official PHIVOLCS and NDRRMC advisories.