FAQ.ph

FAQ.ph is where you can read interesting facts, answers and frequently asked questions about the Philippines, its places, events and people.

  • Home
  • Travel
  • History
  • Society
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment

Top 10 Strongest Earthquakes to hit the Philippines

October 8, 2015 By Lyza R. Sabornido 1 Comment

Maribojoc Church

What’s left of Maribojoc Church after the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Bohol.

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.

The following are top 10 strongest earthquakes in the Philippines that caused major 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.

7. Magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Central Visayas (February 6, 2012)

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.

Advertisements

Join us on Facebook

FAQ.ph

Advertisements

Most Popular Articles

  • A rotary dial telephone, made in 1966. List of Telephone Area Codes in the Philippines
  • monuments in the Philippines 12 Famous Monuments and Shrines in the Philippines that You should Visit
  • Rizal Monument in Luneta Park 25 Facts You Should Know About Rizal Monument and Luneta Park
  • Tagalog alphabet Top 10 Languages Used in the Philippines
  • Rizal Park Manila Entrance 10 Reasons Why Every Filipino Should Visit Rizal Park in Manila
  • Maribojoc Church Top 10 Strongest Earthquakes to hit the Philippines
  • Top tourist destinations in the Philippines 20 Tourist Destinations to Visit in the Philippines in 2016
  • Manila_Skyway 10 Longest Bridges in the Philippines
  • The Philippines is a favorite destination for beach lovers. 101 Facts You Should Know about the Philippines
  • walking at Kalanggaman sandbar How to Go to Kalanggaman Island in Palompon Leyte?

About us

FAQ.ph stands for Facts, Answers and Questions about the Philippines. It is an online place where you can read interesting facts, useful answers and frequently asked questions about our country, its places, events and people. Our mission is to share stories that will help Filipinos and the world gain knowledge about everything in the Philippines, including its beautiful spots, rich history, unique society, and solutions towards the nation's progress.

More pages

  • About us
  • Privacy policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Advertise
  • Contact us

Latest comments

  • Thunderbird on 10 Reasons Why Every Filipino Should Visit Rizal Park in Manila
  • Capt Wade on The 10 Poorest Provinces in the Philippines
  • Marcus on Promote Your Town in the Philippines for Free at FAQ.PH
  • Cheryl on How to Get a Barangay Clearance in the Philippines
  • Rolyn on How to Apply as a Voluntary Member with the SSS

© 2017 FAQ.PH All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience and to personalise content and adverts, to provide social media features and to analyse traffic. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.
AcceptRejectRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT