HW3 Ce100

STRONGEST EARTHQUAKES
IN THE PHILIPPINES
By: Keneth Jed R. Manuel | C06
1.
1976 MORO GULF
EARTHQUAKE
THE EFFECTS OF THE EARTHQUAKE
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 8.1 that struck the island of Mindanao around
midnight on August 17, 1976, triggered a tsunami that wreaked havoc over more than 700 km of
the North Celebes Sea's Moro Gulf shoreline. The epicenter of the earthquake is located 06.3° N,
124.0° E. According to surveys during the event, the tsunami was responsible for 8000 deaths,
10000 injured, and 90000 homeless, making the event the most catastrophic disasters in the
history of the Philippines (Arguillas, 2011).
Many various buildings were damaged and destroyed from the earthquake. Schools were
almost destroyed because of it. Harvadian College was partially collapsed despite it being made
with reinforced concrete. Hotels and restaurants was also damaged. D’MAX Restaurant, a structure
made with reinforced concrete and wood, was completely collapsed. An already damaged
cinema, Cotabato Cinema, was also completely destroyed from the earthquake. Old structures,
such as churches, was severely damaged and destroyed from the earthquake (Cohn et al., 1979).
IMAGES OF THE DISASTER
REFERENCES
Cohn, S., Stewart, G. (1979). The 1976 August 16, Mindanao, Philippine earthquake(Ms=7.8) –
evidence for a subduction zone south of
Mindanao. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-
246X.1979.tb03771.x/abstract
Arguillas, C. (2011).The 1976 Tsunami: Maguindanao had highest death toll.

http://www.mindanews.com/special-reports/2011/03/the-1976-tsunami-
maguindanao-had-highest-death-toll/
2.
1990 BAGUIO
EARTQUAKE
An earthquake with magnitude 7.8 hit the city of Baguio in July 16, 1990.
The epicenter of the earthquake was found close to the Nueva Ecija town of Rizal
at 15º 42' N and 121º 7’ E. Other areas were also affected, with Baguio City being
the most damaged. It was estimated that the earthquake was responsible for
taking 2412 lives. The city experienced extensive damage to its infrastructures.
Hyatt Terraces Plaza, Nevada Hotel, Baguio Hilltop Hotel, Baguio Park Hotel, and
FRB Hotel completely collapsed, which buried many people alive. It was
estimated that the city suffered US$369-million worth of damages (Fanger, 2019).
REFERENCE
Fanger, S. E. (2019, May 23). FAST FACTS: The 1990 Luzon earthquake. RAPPLER.
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/235492-things-to-know-about-luzon-
earthquake-1990/
3.
1968 CASIGURAN
EARTHQUAKE
In August 2, 1968, Casiguran in Aurora was hit with an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3
and an intensity of VIII. Its epicenter was located in 16.3 N and 122.11 E. It was estimated that the
event took 270 lives of the people, and 261 people. Due to the intensity of the earthquake, many
structures were damaged from the earthquake. The Ruby Tower in Binondo, Manila collapsed
immediately during the quake. The Escolta area sustained different severity of damages to their
structures. Extensive landslides and large fissures occurred in the mountainous area of the
epicentral area (PHIVOLCS, 2023).
REFERENCE
PHIVOLCS (2023). 1968 August 02 Ms7.3 Casiguran Earthquake. PHIVOLCS.
https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/earthquake/destructive-earthquake-of-
the-philippines/2-uncategorised/206-1968-august-02-ms7-3-casiguran-earthquake
4.
2013 BOHOL
EARTHQUAKE
A 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked Bohol Island, which is located in the Philippines'
central Visayas area, on October 15, 2013. Although the quake's epicenter was located in southern
Mindanao, it was felt as far away as the Bohol towns of Sagbayan and Catigbian. It was the most
powerful earthquake to strike Bohol in almost 25 years, and it led to several landslides and other
forms of devastation. Another 350,000 people were displaced, and at least 200 individuals lost
their lives. There were almost 50,000 demolished dwellings (UNICEF, 2023).
The health industry took a significant hit. At least 25 healthcare institutions were
completely damaged, while 111 others were only partially so. This caused significant
interruptions in the distribution of important medications, the delivery of health services, and the
breakdown of the cold chain system, which is necessary for the transportation and storage of
vaccines (WHO, 2017).
REFERENCES
World Health Organization: WHO. (2017). Bohol Earthquake: One year on. www.who.int.
https://www.who.int/philippines/news/feature-stories/detail/bohol-earthquake-one-
year-on
2013 PHILIPPINES EARTHQUAKE. (2023). UNICEF USA. https://www.unicefusa.org/what-

unicef-does/emergency-response/earthquakes/2013-philippines-earthquake
5.
1994 MINDORO
EARTHQUAKE
A local catastrophic tsunami was caused by an earthquake of a magnitude of 7.1 with an
epicenter located 11 km N 22° W of Baco, Mindoro, close to Verde Island. The combined impacts of
the earthquake and tsunami in eastern Mindoro resulted in 78 deaths, 430 injuries. 7566 dwellings
were damaged or destroyed in 13 out of 15 municipalities. No time was available to give a
warning. Tsunami waves slammed a 40 km stretch of Mindoro Island's northern and eastern
shoreline, from Puerto Galera up to Pinamalayan, around five minutes after the tremor. North of
Mindoro, in the Verde and Baco Islands, there was also a problem. At Pulong Malaki (Baco Island),
there were waves with a maximum runup of 8.5 meters. Additionally, Batangas Bay reported some
minor waves (ITIC, 2023).
REFERENCE
ITIC (2023). 15 November 1994, MW 7.1, Mindoro, Philippines - International Tsunami
Information Center. http://itic.ioc-
unesco.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2129&Itemid=3131

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STRONGEST EARTHQUAKES

Arguillas, C. (2011).The 1976 Tsunami: Maguindanao had highest death toll.

2013 PHILIPPINES EARTHQUAKE. (2023). UNICEF USA. https://www.unicefusa.org/what-

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