MOST POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Introduction

We all know that the Philippines is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is

the reason why our country is prone to seismic and volcanic activity.

Now, the country is preparing for “The Big One”, a magnitude 7.2 magnitude

earthquake from the West Valley Fault which is expected to hit Metro Manila and

Quezon City. Thus, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in coordination with the Bureau of

Fire Protection (BFP) and other government agencies has been conducting series of

earthquake drills. This is to prepare the people for the estimated impacts projected in

the 2004 Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS). According to

MMEIRS, “The Big One” could destroy about 40% of residential buildings and damage

35 percent of public buildings. It could also result to 34,000 casualties, 114,000

individuals will be seriously injured, and the possible fire incidents that would follow

could add another 18,000 deaths. With the drills and information campaigns conducted,

the authorities are hoping that those numbers would be lessened.

Actually, there had been many stronger earthquakes which hit the Philippines

since 1600s but they caused lesser damage to properties. Casualties were also fewer

because the cities then weren’t so densely populated unlike today. And as we

know, Manila is the most densely populated city in the Philippines, if a magnitude 7.2

earthquake hits, there would surely be thousands of casualties and billions of damages

on properties and infrastructures.

destructions and casualties:

1. Magnitude 8.0 earthquake in Mindanao (August 17, 1976)

A magnitude 8.0 earthquake took place near Mindanao and Sulu a little

past midnight of August 17, 1976 that was felt as far as Visayas. It was then

followed by a massive 4 to 5 meters high tsunami covering 700 kilometers of

coastline bordering the island. Because it was dark, the people were caught by

the raging water which claimed 8,000 lives, injuring 10,000, and leaving 90,000

more, homeless.

2. Magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Northern and Central Luzon (July 16, 1990)

A total of 2,412 people died and at least ₱10-billion worth of damages to

public and private properties was reported after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake

struck Northern and Central Luzon at around 4:00 p.m. of July 16, 1990.

Hyatt Terraces Plaza, Nevada Hotel, Baguio Hilltop Hotel, Baguio Park

Hotel, and FRB Hotel, all in Baguio collapsed trapping and burying people alive.

Although the epicenter was recorded in Nueva Ecija, it caused more

damage in the City of Pines. And the quake that just lasted for about a minute

was one of the tragedies in the country that would never be forgotten.
3. Magnitude 7.5 earthquake in Luzon (November 30, 1645)

The magnitude 7.5 earthquake that crushed Luzon on November 30, 1645

at about 8:00 pm was called the “most terrible earthquake” in Philippines history.

The Epicenter of the said quake was in Nueva Ecija caused by the San Manuel

and Gabaldon Faults.

The extent of the tremor was felt as far as Cagayan Valley. It has caused

many landslides which buried many people alive and destroyed many buildings

and churches including Manila Cathedral.

That time, only Spanish are counted so the recorded number of casualties

was only 600 while the injured was 3,000.

4. Magnitude 7.3 earthquake in Casiguran (August 2, 1968)

Most of the people in Casiguran, Aurora was still fast asleep when a

magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck at 4:19 a.m. of August 2, 1968.

It was another deadly and shocking seismic activity in the country. And the

City of Manila got the most severe damage. Many buildings were either damaged

or destroyed totally.

The said event was also called the Ruby Tower earthquake after the said

six-story building located in Binondo collapsed, and caused the death of 260

people. A total of 268 people died that day and 261 more were injured.
5. Magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Bohol (October 15, 2013)

I can still remember how people panicked in the morning of October 15,

2013. It was around 8:12 a.m. when a strong earthquake was felt here in

Tacloban City. Only to find out after the lights came back that what we have

experienced was nothing compared to the damage it caused in Bohol which was

the epicenter of the magnitude 7.2 earthquake.

The quake affected most of Central Visayas, particularly Bohol and Cebu.

It was felt in the whole area of Visayas and reached as far as Masbate Island in

the north and Cotabato in Southern Mindanao.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

Council (NDRRMC), a total of 222 people died, 8 went missing and 976 others

were injured. An estimated 73,000 structures were damaged wherein more than

14,500 of which were destroyed totally.

6. Magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Mindoro (November 15, 1994)

November 15, 1994, at around 3:15 a.m., a magnitude 7.1 earthquake

rocked Mindoro. A gigantic 8.5 meters (28 ft) tsunami then followed which

devastated the islands of Baco and Calapan, Mindoro.

A total of 7,566 houses were washed out and some 78 people died

because of that tragedy.

A total of 51 people died, 62 still missing and 112 were injured when a 6.9

earthquake Central Visayas, particularly Negros and parts of Mindanao on

February 6, 2012.

It caused a landslide which buried a barangay, damaged 15,483 houses,

and a total damage of ₱383-million on infrastructures and buildings was

recorded.

8. Magnitude 7.5 earthquake in Central and Southern Mindanao (March 5,

2002)

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake resulted to the death of 15 people and

injuring around a hundred more in Central and Southern Mindanao on March 5,

2002.

The said quake originated near the Cotabato Trench that was followed by

a tsunami. But it was the flood that was generated by landslides and falling

debris that caused damage to an estimated 800 buildings.

9. Magnitude 6.5 quake in Ilocos Norte (August 17, 1983)

The magnitude 6.5 quake in Ilocos Norte on August 17, 1983 happened

around 8:18 p.m. and resulted to 16 casualties and 47 people got injured.
 It caused damages on various establishments such as schools, buildings,

malls, residences, and etc. There were also landslides and sand boils that

followed the event.

10. Magnitude 7.6 earthquake happened near Guiuan, Eastern Samar (August

31, 2012)

A very strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 happened near Guiuan,

Eastern Samar on August 31, 2012 that was felt as far as Mindanao.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)

issued a tsunami warning Level 3, but it was lifted 5 hours later.

The quake caused damage on homes, bridges, and other infrastructures.

There were also power interruptions in the affected areas. But despite the

intensity only one person was reported dead and one injured because of the

landslide in Cagayan de Oro City.

The bad thing about an earthquake is that we cannot prevent it and we

cannot predict it. We do not know when exactly it would happen. Because of that,

it would be better for us to be prepared at all times. Participate in Earthquake

drills conducted by authorities, keep an emergency kit in the house, don’t panic

when it happens and most importantly don’t forget to pray.

In August 16, 1976, a devastating earthquake on the Cotabato Trench caused

destruction on the island of Mindanao - the southernmost and largest of the Phillipine

Islands.

The destructive tsunami that was generated in the Gulf of Moro and in the

Celebes Sea killed about 8,000 people in coastal communities in North and South

Zamboanga, North and South Lanao, North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan

Kudarat (Mindanao), and in the neighboring Sulu Islands.

This was the worst earthquake and tsunami disaster in the history of the

Phillilines. Also, the Indonesian Hydrographic Office reported that unusual wave activity

affected the islands of Sulawesi (Celebes Island) and Borneo.

1976 Moro Gulf Earthquake

10,000

People Died
Injured
Homeless

90,000
 The earthquake occurred at night when offices and schools in Cotabato,

Zamboanga and other cities were unoccupied - thus the loss of life was reduced.

Although the quake had a large magnitude, surprisingly, it produced little ground

deformation on land areas. However, there was extensive earthquake damage to

buildings, bridges and roads in Mindanao and particularly at the city of Cotabato. The

majority of buildings failed because of poor construction or inadequate foundations. A

number of such buildings had been constructed on alluvial deposits with no adequate

pile support. Evidence of ground liquefaction was found in many areas where mud

bubbles had reached the surface.

Initially over 8,000 people were officially counted as killed or missing, 10,000

injured, and 90,000 homeless, making it one of the most devastating disasters in the

history of the Philippine Islands. After the initial earthquake the people were unaware of

the need to move to higher ground; when the tsunami hit it sucked most of the victims

out to sea. Based on the investigation on the affected region it was confirmed that the

waves reached up to 4 to 5 meters (13 to 16 ft.) when they hit the areas.

With a 8.0 magnitude and almost 3,000 casualties, this Mindanao Earthquake is

officially the strongest and deadliest earthquake in Philippine History.

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