Earthquake Philippines History: A List of the Latest and Deadliest Earthquakes

As a country located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is prone to earthquakes. Those disasters have hit this archipelago numerous times. Moreover, the earthquake Philippines history showed that many of them are destructive.

Earthquakes in the Philippines have killed and injured thousands of people throughout history. The first earthquake record Philippines dates back to the 1600s, during the Spanish occupation. Some of those hazards also triggered tsunamis and landslides in many regions.

The Latest Philippines Earthquake

Approximately 800 earthquakes hit the Philippines each year. However, not all of them are powerful enough to be felt. Unfortunately, the latest quake in this archipelago was rather destructive. It has stirred panic reactions and caused fatalities in several regions.

In the morning of October 10, an earthquake struck the southern Philippines with a magnitude of 7.4 Mw. The epicenter of this geological disaster was offshore Manay, Davao Oriental Province. 

This incident also triggered a tsunami warning in the Philippines and Indonesia. Thankfully, no tsunamis were observed in either country. However, this earthquake killed one person and damaged several properties.

About seven hours later, another earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 occurred in the same region. Both earthquakes caused at least 10 fatalities and over 1,000 casualties. 

These two incidents happened only two weeks after another deadly quake shook Cebu. This 6.9-magnitude earthquake killed 79 people and injured hundreds of others.

Earthquake Philippines History: Top 5 Deadliest Earthquakes

For centuries, authorities have recorded many powerful earthquakes in the Philippines. Below is the list of the deadliest earthquakes in this country.

1. Moro Gulf Earthquake (1976)

The Moro Gulf earthquake in 1976 is not the biggest earthquake in Philippines history. Its magnitude was 8.0, which was less powerful than the 8.3-magnitude Mati earthquake in 1924.

However, the Moro Gulf earthquake is the deadliest in this archipelago. This geological hazard triggered a tsunami in nearby regions. Moreover, its highest wave was 9 meters and was observed at Lebak.

This disaster struck Bangsamoro and neighboring regions at midnight on August 17. The combination of its powerful shake, tsunami, and time of occurrence resulted in over 8,000 deaths and more than 10,000 injuries.

2. Luzon Earthquake (1990)

In 1990, three powerful earthquakes shook the Philippines. Among them, the Luzon earthquake in July 1990 is the deadliest. The earthquake Philippines history recorded over 1,600 deaths and more than 3,000 injuries caused by this geological hazard.

The Luzon earthquake had a magnitude of 7.8 Mw and an intensity of IX MMI. The tremor from this disaster could be experienced by people in Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Cordillera, and many other regions. 

Moreover, the catastrophe destroyed many buildings. Due to this hazard, over 120,000 people were displaced. The earthquake also cost the country 10 billion Philippine pesos. However, the Luzon earthquake was not accompanied by a tsunami because its epicenter was not under the seabed.

3. Manila Earthquake (1863)

In June 1863, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 hit Metro Manila and surrounding regions. This earthquake was extremely destructive because its intensity reached 10 MMI in some areas. 

Due to this earthquake, thousands of buildings, including Manila Cathedral and the Governor’s Palace, collapsed. The Manila earthquake caused approximately 1000 fatalities and 200 casualties. This catastrophe also forced thousands of people to evacuate their damaged houses.

4. Lanao Earthquake (1955)

The Lanao earthquake in April 1995 is one of the deadliest disasters in the Philippines. The 7.6-magnitude earthquake affected several areas, including Bangsamoro, Northern Mindanao, and Soccsksargen. 

The epicenter of this quake was under Mindanao Island. Consequently, its tremor was heavily felt in those areas. According to the record, the intensity of this tremor was VIII MMI. 

Therefore, it is not surprising that many houses, mosques, and infrastructures near Lake Lanao collapsed due to this earthquake. This catastrophe also killed 465 people and injured almost 900 people.

5. Bohol Earthquake (2013)

The deadliest earthquake in the Philippines in the 21^st century occurred in Bohol, Central Visayas Province. The morning of October 13, 2013, was a gloomy day for those in Bohol and the surrounding areas. 

That morning, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck these areas. Despite the moderate magnitude, the Bohol earthquake was extremely destructive due to its shallow and terrestrial epicenter. The report said that its intensity reached IX MMI. 

Over 200 people died and 970 others were injured due to this geological hazard. This earthquake also triggered landslides in many locations in Bohol and Cebu.

The earthquake Philippines history has recorded many destructive and deadly earthquakes and tsunamis. However, this country has learned to mitigate geological disasters by improving its warning system. Other countries can improve their warning systems, too, if they have cell broadcast technology from smsbroadcaster.com.