Philippine Fault System

The Philippine Fault System is a major inter-related system of faults throughout the whole of the Philippine
Archipelago, primarily caused by tectonic forces compressing the Philippines into what geophysicists call
the Philippine Mobile Belt.

Philippine Mobile Belt

The Philippine Mobile Belt is composed of a large number of accretionary blocks and terranes. These terranes
are long and narrow like the Zambales ophiolites which is at least 400 km long and 50 km wide. The strips
generally run north-south and the zones of convergence are usually demarcated by fault lines. The Philippine
Mobile Belt is compressed on the west by the Eurasian Plate and two arms of the Sunda Plate, and on the east
by the Philippine Sea Plate. These tectonic plates have compressed and lifted parts of the Philippines causing
extensive faulting, primarily on a north-south axis. All faults in the Philippines are inter-related by the tectonic
forces of the Philippine Mobile Belt, or its tectonic induced volcanism. A more complete understanding can be
gained by viewing the faults in the Philippines as an inter-related Philippine Fault System.

Philippine Fault Zone

The Philippine Fault Zone (PFZ) extends 1200 km across the Philippine archipelago behind the convergent
boundary of the Philippine Trench and the subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate.[3] This left-lateral strike-slip
fault extends NW-SE (N30 – 40 W) accommodating the lateral oblique motion of the subducting Philippine
Sea Plate with respect to the Philippine Trench.[4][3]It extends from Davao Gulf in the south, bisects the Caraga
region at the Agusan River basin, crosses to Leyte and Masbate islands, and traverses Quezon province in
eastern Luzon before passing through Nueva Ecija up to the Ilocos region in northwest Luzon. The northern
and southern extensions of the PFZ are characterized by branching faults due to brittle terminations. These
horsetail faults are indicative of the lateral propagation and further development of the PFZ. The fault’s
current activity can be observed in Holocene sandstone outcrops on the Mati and Davao Oriental islands.
[5]
The fault experiences a slip rate of approximately 2-2.5 cm/year.[6]

Formation
It is proposed that the Philippine Trench and PFZ represent a ‘shear partitioning’ mechanism, where the
oblique physical motions of subduction at the convergent zone resulted in the development of the major
strike-slip fault. In the Philippine Sea, the oblique motion of the subducting Philippine Sea Plate resulted in
the formation of the Philippine trench and the PFZ back arc fault system. The oblique motion is
accommodated by two vector components; one vector perpendicular to the converging Philippine Trench and
one vector parallel to the PFZ. Approximately 30% of the oblique motion is accommodated by the PFZ while
the remaining proportions are displaced along other regional tectonic features as the Philippine Sea Plate
currently subducts below the Philippine archipelago at a rate of 6–8 cm/year. These two tectonic features thus
correlate to a similar time of development. The formation of the PFZ was a result of two stages. The first stage
began at ~10 Ma, when the northern segments of the PFZ developed due to the convergence of the China
Sea Crust underneath the nearby Manila Trench. The lack of accretionary prism at the Philippine Trench is
suggestive of young origin correlating to an early second stage of development (2-4 Ma) with the central PFZ
proposed to have developed between 2.7 and 3.8 Ma.[3]

Earthquakes
The central Philippine Fault Zone consisting of the Guinyangan, Masbate, and Central Leyte faults are the most
seismically active regions transecting the islands of Bondoc to Leyte. The northern and southern extensions of
the Philippine Fault Zone experience infrequent earthquakes and often described as locked segments which
are capable of larger magnitude earthquakes. The largest (M7.0) and most destructive earthquakes are
generated along the Guinyangan fault every 30 to 100 years with slip rates of 20–33 mm/year as determined
by GPS and historical records. Moderate earthquakes (M3.0-5.0) are observed along the Masbate fault with
frequent aftershocks indicative of continued displacement and regional slip of 5–35 mm/year. The northern
and southern segments of the Central Leyte fault experiences different seismic activity dependent on regional
geology. While the Southern Central Leyte fault experiences moderate seismic events, the Northern Central
 Leyte fault creeps at approximately 25 mm/year. Historical data on the PFZ is limited due to the faults
geographical location predominantly offshore, lack of complete paleoseismic data and lack of
permanent Global Positioning System (GPS) that can trace movements over long periods of time. [4]

List Of Active Fault Lines In The Philippines

1. Marikina Valley Fault (Montalban, San Mateo, Marikina, Pasig, Taguig, Muntinlupa, San Pedro, Binan,
Carmona, Santa Rosa, Calamba, Tagaytay, Oriental Mindoro)
2. Western Philippine Fault (Luzon Sea, Mindoro Strait, Panay Gulf, Sulu Sea)
3. Eastern Philippine Fault (Philippine Sea)
4. Southern of Mindanao Fault (Moro Gulf, Celebes Sea)
5. Central Philippine Fault (Entire Ilocos Norte, Aurora, Quezon, Masbate, Eastern Leyte, Southern
Leyte, Agusan Del Norte, Agusan Del Sur, Davao del Norte)
Of these, the MARIKINA VALLEY FAULT poses the greatest danger because it cuts through all the modern and
progressive portions of Manila such as Eastwood, Rockwell, Ortigas Center, Bonifacio Global City, Ayala Center,
and Alabang. Also, the PhiVolcs people have warned that this fault line can move anytime because it is already
“11 years late” for its movement.

*The earthquake that destroyed Guinsaugon is the Central Philippine Fault

*The 1990 earthquake that destroyed Central Luzon and Baguio is also the Central Philippine Fault.

Of these, the MARIKINA VALLEY FAULT poses the greatest danger because it custs through all the modern
and progressive portions of Manila such as Eastwood, Rockwell, Ortigas Center, Bonifacio Global City,
Ayala Center, and Alabang. Also, the PhiVolcs people have warned that this fault line can move anytime
because it is already “11 years late” for its movement.

Do analyze the figure provided below:

Figure A Tectonic setting of the Marikina Valley fault system (MVFS) in central Luzon, The Philippines. In A,
subduction zone trenches are shown by white barbed lines and other faults with high rates of Quaternary
activity by heavy black lines. White dots show locations of recent earthquakes on the Philippine fault in Luzon
(magnitude 7.8; 1990) and the Aglubang River fault in Mindoro (magnitude 7.1; 1994).

Figure B shows how the Marikina Valley pull-apart basin (MVPB) may have been formed through extension
caused by clockwise rotation (dashed circle) and shearing of this part of central Luzon, which is caught
between two active left-lateral strike-slip faults–the Philippine fault and the Lubang fault. A zone of extension
and young volcanism has also influenced the structural development of the valley.

Philippines are in the Pacific ring of fire,there are so many Major Faults in the country, and we have to
trenches surrounding both sides of our country the first one is located at the South China Sea and the other
one is called the Philippine trench which is located at the right side of our country, facing the pacific ocean.

Source: http://blogphilippines.com/2009/10/list-of-active-fault-lines-in-the-philippines.html

Destructive Earthquakes in the Philippines

Bohol Earthquake (○2013 Ms 7.2 ○1996 Ms 5.6 ○1990 Ms 6.8)
1990 February 08 Ms6.8 Bohol Earthquake
Bohol Earthquake - February 08, 1990

This shallow seated tectonic earthquake with magnitude 6.8, struck the island of Bohol at 3:15 pm, caused
panic to general public, damaged several houses and infrastructure and presented several geologic
disturbances. Its epicenter was located about 17 kilometers east of Tagbilaran City with a maximum felt
intensity of VIII, based on Rossi-Forel Intensity Scale, in the towns of Jagna, Duero and Guindulman all
situated on the lower area of the NE quadrant of the island. It was felt at intensity VII in Garcia Hernandez,
Loboc, Valencia and Anda, Intensity VI in Tagbilaran City, the rest among the 16 municipalities of Bohol and in
the neighboring islands of Cebu and Camiguin. Intensity V was felt over areas of Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao,
Dumaguete City in Negros, Intensity IV in the areas of Canlaon in Negros and Cotabato City in Mindanao.
Reported felt intensities ranging from I to III was also felt as far as Palo in Leyte and Bislig in Surigao.
Observed geologic phenomena related to this event include ground fissures, landslides, rockfalls, ground
subsidence and collapse, sand/mud fountaining and sudden increase on the sea level. Most of the
manifestations were particularly observed and experienced by the towns of Jagna, Valencia, Duero,
Guindulman and Garcia Hernandez. The force of the incoming waves from the sea caused Alijuan River in
Duero to flow inland immediately after the earthquake.
Based on the orientation of the main fracture zones, focal mechanism solution and aftershock distribution, the
earthquake may have represented subsurface rupture along segments of the NE-SW Alicia thrust fault. Studies
by the Bureau of Mines (1986), however, point to the fact that in most portion of the fault is being overlained
by Miocene to recent limestone which does not reflect any deformation suggesting that the fault has been
inactive for quite a long time. This would pose a question as to whether the earthquake represented
reactivation of an old fault or indicated new fault movement in the island.
Impact and damage documentation revealed that the worstly affected portion of the island was sustained by
the eastern and southeastern coastal areas, observed to be mostly underlained by alluvial deposits which have
tendency to amplify ground motions generated by an earthquake. Likewise, most of the damaged buildings
were either old/poorly-built or lacked the necessary reinforcements to resist strong ground shaking. About
3,000 units of houses, buildings and churches were affected and damaged where a total of 182 were totally
collapsed including two historical churches built centuries ago. Some 200,000 sq.m. of fishpond in the town of
Guindulman sustained damage due to cracked and collapsed dikes. Mud eruptions on these fishpens
contributed to the death of fishes and prawns.
The bridge connecting the towns of Jagna and Duero collapsed. Roads to Anda sustained cracks and fissuring.
Landslides and rockfalls blocked some portions of the roads that caused inaccessibility to some areas
between Anda and Garcia Hernandez.
Six fatalities were reported and more than 200 were injured in the event. About 46,000 people were displaced
by the event and at least 7,000 among them were rendered homeless. Estimated damage to properties is
amounting to 154 million pesos.

References:
Umbal, J.V., Masigla L.M., Medrano R. N. and Diolata G.P. - Report of Investigation
on the February 08, 1990 Earthquake in Bohol Province. PHIVOLCS

1996 May 27 Ms5.6 Bohol Earthquake

Bohol Earthquake - 27 May 1996

Preliminary reports indicated that there were damages in Clarin, Inabanga, Trinidad, Tubigon and Loay
Municipalities all in Bohol, as well as in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue in Cebu Island. Due to these reports, a
Quick Response Team was immediately dispatched to investigate the reported affected areas. The team
consists of a personnel from the main office and two field station observers from Tagbilaran and Lapu-lapu
Seismic Stations. Investigation commenced on the 29th of May at Cebu Island. Buildings and other structures
at the reclamation areas of Mandaue City (Landmark Cinema, SM Shopping Mall) and in Cebu City (Skyways,
City Hall and buildings along M.J. Cuenco Avenue) were inspected. After that the team proceeded to Bohol
Island to verify reports of damages in the towns of Clarin, Inabanga, Tubigon, Loay and Trinidad.

Date of Event May 27, 1996

Origin Time 1:45 p.m. (0545 GMT)
Epicenter 09.98 N Latitude 124.10 E Longitude or In between Clarin and Inabanga, Bohol
Magnitude 5.6Ms
Depth approximately 4 km from the surface.

Intensity Report:
Intensity VI Clarin-Bohol, Inabanga-Bohol
Intensity V Cebu City, Lapu-lapu City, Trinidad-Bohol, Tubigon-Bohol
Intensity IV Tagbilaran City , Loay-Bohol
Intensity III Cadiz City, Negros Occidental
Intensity II Iloilo City, Bacolod City
Intensity I Palo-Leyte, Camiguin Island
Note: Intensity scale used in these observation was the Rossi-Forel Earthquake Intensity Scale.

Findings of the QRT Team:

Cebu
The SM Mall located at the reclamation area in Mandaue City reportedly sustained cracks on the wall plaster
and floor tiles due to the earthquake but Mall Manager Ranier Matubayas disproved the alleged report about
the damages. He said that a press conference was being held at the Mall when the earthquake occurred. The
media people attending the conference witnessed the panicking public that caused them to attribute the pre-
existing hairline cracks on the wall plaster and floor tiles to the earthquake. Likewise, the owner of Landmark
Cinema disproved that the pre-existing cracks on the pebble washout plastering were related to the said
earthquake. There were no damages found in buildings and houses along M.J. Cuenco Avenue as reported
earlier. However, minor cracks were found at some non-structural parts of Cebu City Hall, which was rebuilt in
1946. These cracks developed on old masonry wall near the windows, below the beams, above the doors and
other masonry parts of the building. Moreover, City Hall employees confirmed that some of these cracks can
be attributed to already existed after the 08 February 1990 earthquake and was only aggravated by the
ground sharing during the 27 May 1996 earthquake. Continuous cracks across the Skyway Bridge were seen
under the two identical skyways situated at Fuente-Osmeña Boulevard and Avellano High School - Osmeña
Boulevard. The cracks formed on plasters that were used to cover the space along shear gaps between two
adjacent bridges. Cebu City is 38 kilometers away from the epicentral area.

Loay, Bohol
Loay is about 40 kilometers south-southwest from the epicenter. Inspite of its closeness to the epicenter, only
few residents felt the earthquake. Injured were Mr. Escolastico Borong and his wife who sustained minor
injuries caused by the collapse of their old wooden shanty at Barangay Bonbon. The posts of the shanty was
not firmly fixed to the ground. Its collapse made the other residents aware of the occurrence of the
earthquake. No other damages to buildings and infrastructues were observed elsewhere in Loay.

Tubigon, Bohol
Tubigon is about 10 kilometers west-southwest from the epicenter. In general, ground shaking only produced
minor cracks on the walls and plaster of the column, about 2 millimeters opening and 3 meters long, of the
Tubigon Municipal Hall. However, it was observed that the reinforced concrete linings of the same walls were
damaged by peeling-off from the piled limestone blocks normally used in the olden times as construction
materials in Bohol. Slight cracks were also observed on one of the walls of the Priest's room of San Isidro
Labrador Church.

Trinidad, Bohol
The town of Trinidad is about 15 kilometers northeast from the epicentral area. The rail-guard and pathways
of four wooden bridges were damaged. These bridges are very old that their use must be limited to light
vehicles even before the earthquake. Pre-existing cracks on the floor and entrance steps of the Municipal
Health Center grew and became more pronounced after the earthquake. Health workers confirmed that some
of the cracks already existed before the earthquake but new minor cracks appeared on the walls of the center
after the 27 May 1996 earthquake. Local officials were able to report the cited damages because of their
available communication lines e.g. handheld radio.

Inabanga, Bohol
During the visit to Inabanga Municipal Hall, Vice Mayor Victoriano M. Basilan reported that the arch at
Barangay Kagawasan Chapel and one side of the walls of the buildings of Nabuad High School collapsed.
Likewise, cracks on the walls of an abandoned Gabaldon-type building of Inabanga Elementary School were
aggravated. This prompted the Municipal Office to act for demolition of said building. The Municipal Hall itself
also suffered minor cracks of about 3 millimeters opening and at least a meter high length on the wall and
other non-structural parts of the building. Employees narrated that some of the books from their shelved, as
well as the tropies placed on top of the cabinets fell down the floor. Also, residents and storeowners reported
falling objects from open shelved and racks such as bottled and canned goods, medicine etc. The earthquake
caused general panic among the residents because of sudden jolt with both vertical and horizontal motions
and accompanied by rumbling sound. Inabanga town is about 5 kilometers from the epicenter.

Clarin, Bohol
One of the residents said that sleeping persons were awakened by the strong jolt accompanied by rumbling
sound apparently originating from below the ground. Books from shelves fell down. One parked motorcycle
and a refrigerator toppled during the earthquake. Concrete hollow blocks to be used for construction of a
residential house was crushed. Masonry oven (pogon) owned by Mr. Ponciano Rama was damaged, an
example of unreinforced masonry vulnerable to ground shaking. Bottled and canned goods, paints, groceries
etc. fell down.
The rear masonry wall of Barangay Cumang Ricemill collapsed inward the building. That was due to the poor
connection between the said wall and the wooden parts. The wall also served as load-bearing wall of earth
materials and rice shells dumped at the read side of the building. Walls of Clarin Elemntary School suffered
minor cracks. Pronounced damages were sustained in Sam Miguel Church particularly on the bell tower,
which suffered cracks on the walls, across the columns, along the beams, the peeled-off decorative masonry
works. The front door, which is under the bell tower, was closed to the public after the earthquake, avoiding
eminent danger from such damages. The church was built in 1924 with reinforced concrete and its oldness is
one of the factors of suffering such damages during earthquake.
Three residents were injured. One was hit by falling object, another fell down from the stairs due to panic and
the last, a fisherman, met an accident while on his pump boat. The latter was 15 meters away from the shore
when he allegedly encountered two sea waves, about a meter high that damaged his boat and caused injuries
to his right ankle and leg. The victim however was uncertain whether the incident was simultaneous with the
earthquake occurrence or not.

Summary:
The 27 May 1996 earthquake did not cause major damages to properties. Damages were confined to poorly
built structures and/or old wooden, masonry, limestone walls of houses and buildings, generally due to
ground shaking. There were no reports and observations that can be attributed to other phenomena such as
liquefaction, ground subsidence, landslide and any other geologic ground disturbances.

Recommendation:
1. A public information forum for municipal and barangay officials should be organized by NDCC and RDCC
with PHIVOLCS assisting to explain to the people the phenomena related to earthquake. This is to avoid
misconception, exaggeration of the facts about earthquake and to allay the fear and panic. Earthquake disaster
mitigation plan should be considered on these affected places.
2. Since the place is rarely visited by major earthquakes, information campaign should be conducted from
time to time to keep the level of awareness of the people to various earthquake hazards.
3. There should be an immediate inspection and repair/replacement/retrofitting/demolition of the old and
poorly-built structures and affected infrastructures such as roads and bridges.

2013 October 15 Ms7.2 Bohol Earthquake

*INSERT PDF HERE*

Negros Oriental Earthquake (2012 Ms 6.7)

2012 February 6 Ms6.7 Negros Oriental Earthquake

*INSERT PDF HERE*

Masbate Earthquake (2003 Ms 6.2)

2003 February 15 Ms6.2 Masbate Earthquake

Masbate Earthquake
REPORT OF INVESTIGATION
15 FEBRUARY 2003
The Earthquake

A strong earthquake with Ms6.2 struck the province of Masbate at 7:01 in the evening of 15 February 2003.
Preliminary determination of epicenter indicated that the event was generated along the Masbate Segment of
the Philippine Fault Zone (PFZ) in central Philippines. The epicenter was located offshore of Magcaraguit
Island (12.2ºN, 123.8ºE) and about 22 kilometers deep, which is approximately 28 km east of Masbate City.
Initial reports from nearby stations implied that the earthquake was felt all over the island of Masbate
including the nearby provinces of Bicol, Leyte, Panay, Cebu, Negros and Romblon (Figure 1).
The focal mechanism solution released by PHIVOLCS suggests a dominantly left-lateral slip along a vertical
NW-SE fault (Figure 2). This left-lateral slip correlates well with the known structure in the area as observed
in Dimasalang, Palanas and Cataingan along its mapped trace. Figure 3 shows the historical earthquakes along
the Masbate Segment of the Philippine Fault Zone that dates back in the year 1800’s. Magnitues 6.5 and 7.0
earthquakes were reported on 16 August 1869 and on 19 October 1897 on the island respectively (Lanuza,
1994). Another reported earthquake struck the province of Masbate on 23 October 1877 between 1:00 and
2:00 in the afternoon (SEASEE Vol. IV). Other reported earthquakes for the island of Masbate are as follows:
1915 (Ms 6.6); 1970 (Ms 6.3); and 1971 (Ms 6.3). In 07 May 1998, a magnitude Ms 5.7 quake was felt at
intensity VI all over the City of Masbate and the municipalities of Mobo and Uson. This event was preceded by
a magnitude Ms 5.1 with reported intensity VI at Masbate City (Torrevillas et. al., 1998).
A Quick Response Team (QRT) was deployed to Masbate on 18 February 2003 based on the extent of the
preliminary reported damages submitted by the Masbate Seismic Station (Dela Cruz and Torrevillas, 2003,
unpublished internal report). The QRT’s primary purpose was to evaluate the extent of damages due to the
earthquakes in the province of Masbate especially those municipalities located near the epicenter. The team
was also tasked to verify and map the reported ground rupture, conduct intensity survey, disseminate correct
information regarding the event, and install additional seismographs in order to monitor aftershocks of the
Ms 6.2 earthquake. This paper reports the overall findings of the QRT during its 10-day investigation in
Masbate. All intensity reports in this paper are according to the Philippine Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS)
as shown in Figure 4.

Foreshock and Aftershock Analysis

The 7:01 February 15, 2003, Ms6.2 earthquake that hit Masbate has numerous foreshocks and aftershocks.
The main shock was preceded by a moderately strong foreshock with a magnitude of Ms5.2 located at 12.2ºN
and 123.7ºE with a depth of 30 km (Figure 5a). The moment tensor solution indicates strike-slip faulting with
strike=55, dip=78, slip= -175 with Mo=5.3x 1017 Nm equivalent to a seismic moment magnitude Mw 5.8
(Figure 5b). This foreshock was felt over a wide region at the following PEIS intensities:
Intensity VI Dimasalang, Masbate
Palanas, Masbate
Magcaraguit Island,
Dimasalang, Masbate
Deagan Island,
Dimasalang, Masbate
Uson, Masbate

Intensity V Masbate City, Masbate

Batuan, Masbate
Burgos, Masbate

Intensity IV Baleno, Masbate

Aroroy, Masbate
Legazpi City, Bicol
Talisay, Masbate

Intensity III Milagros, Masbate

San Jacinto, Masbate
Borabantique, Masbate
 Kumawit, Monreal, Masbate
Palo, Leyte
Bulusan, Sorsogon
Mandaue City, Cebu

Intensity II New Washington, Aklan

Intensity I Mandaon, Masbate

Intensity surveys revealed that this foreshock was notably strong and caused damages in the epicentral area.
Some residents of affected structures straddling the fault in the municipality of Palanas, Masbate reported
that their houses were damaged by the foreshock manifested by visible cracks on walls and floors and as
fissures in fields and gardens. In Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Palanas, the road was reportedly fissured during this
foreshock. According to interviewees, the same fissures later became wider and larger during the Ms6.2 7:01
pm earthquake. In the island of Magcaraguit, Dimasalang, the non-reinforced walls of a chapel collapsed. In
Deagan, people and animals panicked during this earthquake. In Deagan island, Dimasalang, interviewees
described the booming sound they heard preceding the quake to be very strong and "as if its origin is just
there". In Uson, Masbate, many appliances like televisions and cabinets toppled down during the shaking that
accompanied the foreshock, which prompted the residents to bolt their appliances to the wall in preparation
of the eventuality of another earthquake.
Figure 5a. Map showing the location of the largest foreshock that occured 5 hours before the main event.
Solid circles are the plotted foreshock events.

As of February 24, 2003, a total of 187 aftershocks were recorded in Masbate Seismic Station (MMP). Some of
these aftershocks were felt at intensity II or III along the ground rupture area, in the islands Deagan and
Magcaraguit, and as far as the southern part of Ticao Island. A strong aftershock was felt in Magcaraguit and
Deagan islands and in Dimasalang and Palanas on February 18, 2003 at Intensity IV. Some of the moderately
strong aftershocks were recorded in other permanent PHIVOLCS seismic stations and hypocentral parameters
were located. Preliminary determination indicated that these aftershocks are located 15-40 km southeast of
Masbate City. This implied the continuous activities along the Philippine Fault that ruptured in the southeast
portion of the Masbate Island in the vicinity of Dimasalang and Palanas. Table 1 shows the list of aftershocks
plotted in Figure 5.
In Magcaraguit and Deagan Islands of the municipality of Dimasalang, residents reported an average of 2 felt
aftershocks everyday. In these islands and in places near the ground rupture, aftershock events were observed
to be always preceded by rumbling sounds that vary in intensity depending on the size of the event
(e.g. louder booming sounds preceded bigger aftershocks). In Ticao Island, reports regarding felt aftershocks
were in lesser frequency but were likewise preceded by booming or truck-like sounds. Please see Figure 5 for
the location of aftershock events with resolved epicenters.
In order to detect aftershocks that are very local to the Masbate region and beyond the detection capability of
the existing nearby PHIVOLCS permanent stations, a total of two temporary short-period seismographs were
installed in the area. One of these instruments was installed
in Cataingan, Masbate (N12º00’10.1"; E123º59’53.9’’) that operated from l9-24 February 2003. The other
station was placed in Batuan Poblacion, Batuan, Masbate in Ticao Island (N12º25.33’00"; E123º46.765') and
operated from 20-24 February 2003. Cataingan station (CAT) is near the southern termination of the rupture
while Batuan station (BAT) is located near the projected extension of the fault southwest of Ticao Island
(Figure 6). From 22-23 February, CAT station recorded 5 events while the BAT station recorded 20 quakes.
During this very short period of observation, it was noted that more earthquakes were recorded to the north
of the mapped rupture. The location of the plotted earthquakes and the results of the installation of the
temporary network showed that possible adjustments of the fault were confined along the observed ground
rupture and extend up to the possible offshore extension of the said ground rupture, west of Ticao Island.

Figure 6. Map showing the location of CAT and BAT stations. These were temporary stations installed during
the QRT investigation.

Considering the magnitude of the 15 February 2003 quake, the felt aftershocks were anticipated to be
observed up to about a month after the mainshock. Thus, everyone was advised to take proper precautions
especially when entering buildings and houses that suffered minor to severe damages.
Results of damage assessment and intensity survey conducted by the team throughout the province of
Masbate suggest that the Ms=6.2 earthquake at 7:01 in the evening was felt at Intensity VII and VIII within
the epicentral area. Isoseismal distribution based on PEIS would be as follows:
Intensity VIII Sta. Cruz, Palanas, Masbate*
Suba, Dimasalang, Masbate*

Intensity VII Dimasalang, Masbate

Brgy. Poblacion, Palanas, Masbate
Uson, Masbate
Nabangig, Palanas, Masbate
Nipa, Palanas, Masbate
Deagan, Dimasalang, Masbate
Magcaraguit, Dimasalang, Masbate
Talisay, San Fernando, Masbate
Nipa, San Fernando, Masbate
Pinamughaan, San Fernando, Masbate
Buyo, San Fernando, Masbate

Intensity VI Batuan Poblacion, Batuan, Masbate

Burgos (Lagundi), Batuan, Masbate
Bacolod, Milagros, Masbate
Cataingan, Masbate
Dapdap, Uson, Masbate
Armenia, Uson, Masbate
Canvañez (Aricomo), Batuan, Masbate
Poblacion, San Fernando, Masbate

Intensity V Masbate City

Sto. Niño (Borabantique), Monreal, Masbate
Placer, Masbate
Pio V. Corpuz, Masbate
San Jacinto, Masbate
Putoson, Baleno, Masbate
Poblacion, Aroroy, Masbate
Ambulong, Aroroy, Masbate
Irosin, Sorsogon
Legazpi City, Albay

Intensity IV Palo, Leyte

Naga City, Bicol
Roxas City, Panay

Intensity III Metro Cebu

Lagta, Baleno, Masbate
Cagara, Baleno, Masbate
Poblacion, Baleno, Masbate
 Poblacion, Mandaon, Masbate

Intensity II Luya, Aroroy, Masbate

Intensity I Lezo, Aklan

Kalibo, Aklan

*along the ground rupture

The above observations clearly indicated that intense ground shaking was concentrated along and near the
epicenter and the ground rupture (Figure 7). Figure 8 shows few of the interviewees that gave valuable
information regarding their observations during the earthquake. Felt and observed intensities decreased
accordingly northeastward and southwestward relative to the epicentral location with apparent elongation
along location of the PFZ-Masbate Segment (Figure 7).

Figure 8. Photos of some of the

interviewees in Nabangig (upper
photo) and Sta. Cruz (lower photo) in
Palanas Municipality

Ground Rupture

The ground rupture was verified and mapped through field investigations. The total length of the rupture
onland is approximately 18km transecting several barangays of Dimasalang, Palanas and Cataingan. The
ground rupture was characterized mostly by right-stepping en echelon faults with a general trend of ~N3OW
to ~N4OW and had a maximum opening of 20 cm (Figure 9). The maximum horizontal displacement along
the fault was 47cm in Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Palanas (Figure 10) while the maximum vertical displacement (23cm)
was found in Brgy. Suba, Dimasalang (Figure 11). The average horizontal and vertical displacements mapped
along the ground rupture were 15 cm and 5 cm, respectively.

Figure 9. The observed ground rupture

in Brgy. Sta Cruz, Palanas typically
manifested by an echelon fissures as
shown in the left and above photos

Figure 10. Photo showing a

pilapil (rice paddy dike)
transected by the ground rupture
in Sta. Cruz, Palanas. Photo is
looking SW.
Figure 11. The observed ground rupture
in Dimasalang displacing a line of
vegetation (right, looking NW) and a
residential lot (top, looking SE)
horizontally and vertically.

On the other hand, the average width of the fault zone measured was about 75 cm and the widest
measurement (153 cm) was found in Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Palanas. The ground rupture mapped during the 10-day
investigation was traced from Brgy. Suba, Dimasalang to Sitio Burabod, Brgy. Pawican, Cataingan. The
February 2003 ground rupture, more or less, followed the old trace/location of the active fault with about 3m
localized deviations in some areas. Maximum PEIS intensity of Intensity VIII was observed in some areas
along the ground rapture wherein several houses were totally damaged due to significant horizontal and
vertical displacements (Figure 12). A displaced coconut tree (Figure 13) and the ground rupture
manifestation into the seashore (Figure 14) were observed in Matugnaw, Palanas and Suba, Dimasalang,
respectively.

Figure 12. Damaged houses transected by the

ground rupture in Bry. Suba, Dimasalang (above
photo, looking SE), and in Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Palanas
(right photo, looking SW)
 Figure 13. Displaced coconut tree found in Bry. Matugnaw, Palanas (left photo, looking SE), Also
manifested along the ground rupture in this area were mole tracks (right photo, looking NW).

Figure 14. The Masbate 2003 ground rupture as it

entered the sea transecting the shorelines and coral
reefs fronting Bry. Suba, Dimasalang (photo looking
SW)

To monitor possible post-earthquake deformation along the February 2003 ground rupture, temporary
benchmarks were established in Palanas municipality at barangays Sta. Cruz and Nabangig (Figure 15).
 Figure 15. Temporary stakes installed across the
ground rupture to monitor and measure possible post-
earthquake deformation (photo looking SW)

Considering the following facts and observations:

1. the Masbate Segment is a left-lateral fault,
2. its epicentral location is west of Magcaraguit Island,
3. the distribution of observed aftershocks up to Talisay in Ticao Island,
4. and the observed concentration of high intensities, the projected northern extension of the ground
rupture associated to the February 15, 2003 earthquake is deduced to be up to the Brgy. Talisay in
western Ticao Island. Thus, this would indicate a ground rupture with a total length of at least 50km
(Figure 16).
Damage on vertical and Horizontal Infrastructure
Large magnitude earthquakes determine the structural integrity of solid structures built on earth.
Based on the initial survey conducted by the QRT during its field investigations, some school
buildings, roads, bridges and river flood control projects performed poorly. Moreover, they were
deemed structurally unsafe and hazardous to life and property after experiencing the strong ground
shaking of the 15 February 2003 quake.
5. During this event, engineered structures proximal to the fault trace sustained the worst damage. A
road section of the Masbate-Cataingan Road was intersected by the fault near the Dimasalang-Palanas
boundary (Figure 17). In this area the road was damaged as lateral longitudinal cracks were formed
along the fault producing buckled and cracked section in this road. On the other hand, the Nipa
Bridge along the Masbate- Cataingan Road (km post 57+607), located less than 2km from the ground
rupture suffered significant structural damages. In this bridge, at least one of its columns showed
concrete spalling at mid-height with striking vertical misalignment on both horizontal directions
(Figure 18). Displacement at the bridge deck with respect to the bridge approach was also noticeable
along with the yawning deck joints. Moreover, the slope protection grouted riprap at Nabangig Bridge
located along the Masbate-Cataingan Road (km 62+560) and the Cantil River Control in Brgy.
Poblacion in Palanas, Masbate were also severely damaged. The riprap structures in these areas
suffered numerous large cracks as their foundation failed most probably due to compaction and
slumping.
6.
7. Figure 18. The Nipa Bridge in Dimasalang (left photo)
and the riprap structures (right photo) that
were damaged during the February quake.
8.
9. Furthermore, several school buildings at Masbate National Comprehensive High School suffered
severe shear cracks and column-wall joint failure (Figure 19). In the same structures, some
longitudinal and transversal fractures along the length of the beam and of the column were likewise
observed. The Provincial Health Office's Administration building's middle concrete roof beam reveals
a possible longitudinal rupture. The same failure characteristic was observed on at least two school
buildings in Jose Zurbito Sr. Elementary School (also known as Jose Masbate South Elem. School) in
Masbate City (Figure 20).
10.

Figure 19. School buildings at

Masbate National
Comprehensive High School
that suffered severe shear
cracks and column wall joint
failure
 Figure 20. A collapsed
concrete wall of a Marcos-type
school building in Dimasalang,
Masbate.

11.
12. It was also noted during the investigation that very little attention was given to non-engineered
houses or facilities (Figure 21). Based on ocular investigations, many concrete or semi-concrete
houses in Palanas and Dimasalang suffered severe damages. Since the owners of these houses are
quite unsure about the condition of their residence, the assessment of these houses is urgently
needed. Local engineers both private and government practitioners are enjoined to take the
necessary steps to help owners assess the condition of their damaged houses and facilities
immediately after the quake.
13.

Figure 21. During the earthquake, this non-engineered

fence of a residential house (upper-right, looking NW)
dismembered and a parking garage (lower-right, looking
South) collapsed causing severe damage on parked
vehicle. Both photos were located in Bry. Poblacion,
Dimasalang.

Other Previous Significant Events

From the intensity surveys and ground rupture mapping activities, several significant earthquakes that
affected the Masbate area were likewise obtained. These events were either experienced by the interviewees
to be weaker and/or stronger than the 7:01 15 February 2003 Ms 6.2 event and with observable ground
rupture along the Dimasalang-Cataingan area.
 1957
This event is very memorable for an interviewee in Batuan, Ticao Island and some other interviewees in
Deagan Island and Palanas because it is stronger than the 7:01 February 15, 2003. The aftershocks of the
1954 event were observed to be more frequent and lasted for at least a month compared to the 2003
mainshock. In Magsaysay, Masbate people in the streets lost balance and fell due to intense ground
shaking. People along the rupture area in Brgy. Matugnaw, Palanas, reported co-seismic ground fissures in
the same zone that ruptured during the February 2003 earthquake.
 1967
In San Fernando, Ticao Island, interviewees talked of a strong earthquake during the 1960s at the time of
Mayor Romero. After strong ground shaking, water fountaining was observed in Sitio Magsasaka, San
Fernando Poblacion, Masbate that reached a height of about 16m. The fountaining phenomena can be
associated to either liquefaction or localized disturbance of an aquifer. During this 1967 quake, ground
rupture was likewise observed in Palanas.
 1973
This event was remembered by residents of Kumawit, Monreal of Ticao Island to be more intense than
the 7pm February 15, 2003 earthquake. The 1973 event caused large fragments of the limestone cliffs to
fall into the sea in the northern point of Ticao Island.
 1979
An interviewee from Magcaraguit Island remembered the 1979 earthquake to have caused stronger
ground shaking in the island compared to the 2003 event. The felt aftershocks were greater in number
than the felt aftershocks during the 2003 event and were described to have occurred "incessantly night
and day". There was no tsunami report in Magcaraguit Island.
 1989
This earthquake caused many objects to fall in Sto. Niño (then Borabantique), Monreal in Ticao Island
with associated ground shaking stronger than the February 2003 7pm earthquake.
 1998
Remembered by Kumawit, Monreal inhabitants with stronger ground shaking compared to the February
15, 2003 7pm event with accompanying booming sound. An interviewee from Brgy. Nabangig, Palanas
observed that during this earthquake, boulders crumbled down from the mountain. It also produced
ground rupture in the same area but with much wider ground rupture compared to the ground rupture
produced by the February 2003 earthquake. Almost all of the felt aftershocks in Palanas during this quake
were accompanied by rumbling sounds.
Considering where significant events were fairly remembered, the northern segment of the Masbate Fault:
PFZ implied higher rates of activity (Fig. 22). Moreover,its apparent from the above observations that M6
event in this segment of PFZ produces a relatively large movement of ground rupture.

Tsunami, Rockslides, Lanslides, and Liquefaction

Tsunami is a wave or series of waves generated when a significant displacement occurred under water due to
underwater faulting with large vertical component, underwater landslides and underwater volcanic eruption.
Rock slides and landslides, on the other hand, are slope failures that occurred along mountain or hill slopes
during intense ground shaking. Ground failure can likewise occur in flat regions especially when intense
ground shaking is experienced by areas underlain by water saturated loose sediment (e.g. along shorelines,
deltas and riverbanks).
During the February 2003 event, the occurrence of these kinds of phenomena were very few or almost none.
Reports of unusual wave height and activity were located only near and around the northwestern part of
Ticao Island. Since observed displacement along the ground rupture showed very minimal and localized
vertical displacement, the tsunami in northwest Ticao Island can be attributed most probably to local
underwater landslides. Onland landslides and rockslides were not observed. Minor rockfalls were observed in
Sitio Kumawit, Monreal in the northern part of Ticao Island as well as in Hamoraon and Cudao islands located
near Magcaraguit and Deagan Islands in Dimasalang. Fragments of limestone exposed along vertical cliffs
bordering the shoreline collapsed in these above-listed islands. Liquefaction on the other hand, was also very
minimal. Although there were some reports of ground failure along and near the shorelines, local compaction
of the underlying basal foundation cannot be discounted as the main cause of such failure considering the
prevailing construction practices in the region. Taking into account the intensity of the felt ground shaking
near and along the ground rupture area, it is very notable that effects of liquefaction, landslides and rockslides
were very minimal to almost non-existent. Such striking and fortunate incident can probably be directly
attributed to the very short duration of the February 15, 2003 quake. Based from the interviews, the ground
shaking during the 2pm and 7pm events on February 15, 2003 lasted only for about 4sec and 7sec,
respectively.

Active Faults in Uson Area

Initial aerial photograph and topographic map analyses indicate the possible presence of an active fault about
l km southeast of Uson Poblacion traversing west of Badling, Dungon, and Balucauc vicinities (Figure 11).
However, compared to the Dimasalang-Cataingan trace, the evidence in this area indicates that the Uson trace
is much older (Certainty IV) and thus, probably exhibits much lesser activity. Further analysis will be
undertaken to ascertain its presence. If its presence is further resolved, more field investigations will be
conducted
1. to establish its location,
2. to determine the level of its activity, and
3. to inform immediately all concerned institutions so that proper actions can be promptly undertaken.

Information Dissemination Campaigns

Information dissemination in the form of lectures and briefings were conducted all throughout the fieldwork.
People, especially those living near the hardest hit areas, were very enthusiastic and interested to know more
about earthquakes. Lectures were given in schools (Figure 23), government offices (Figure 24), and barangay
halls but more often in the field whenever there are people who were willing to listen to the Quick Response
Teams all over Masbate and adjoining islands (Figure 25). Briefings and updates were given to proper
authorities everyday and immediately especially in areas with severely damaged structures (Figure 26).

Figure 23. QRT members conduct lectures

on earthquakes for students and teachers
on a school ground in Palanas
 Figure 24. Lectures undertaken at a
government office (DPWH District Office)
in Dimasalang.

Figure 25. Earthquake Info-dissemination

inside a Barangay Hall in Nabangig,
Palanas.

Figure 26. Lectures undertaken in open

fields.

During the lectures, it was noted that the usual cause of their fear was due to wrong information that they
received either from other people, hearsay and/or exaggerated information. Another cause of panic or worry
was the lack of knowledge of what proper things to do before, during and after an earthquake. To immediately
address some of these problems, information about the earthquakes were likewise distributed through
brochures, leaflets and posters (Figure 27). An information board entitled “The Liki Maker: The Masbate 2003
Quake” was likewise produced during the QRT investigation to provide instant information to walk-in
inquirers at the MMP station. The information board was also used during official briefings and lectures.
 Figure 27. The information board produced
during QRT activities where results of field
investigation were displayed for easy information
access to the 15 February 2003 earthquake.

Conclusions
The 15 February 2003 event was generated along the Masbate Segment of the PFZ. The Ms6.2 earthquake
produced at least 18 km long ground rupture onland with a total length of about 50km. Significant
displacements along the Masbate Segment of PFZ caused a maximum intensity of Intensity VIII wherein
houses were totally damaged along the ground rupture. Intensity distribution showed that ground shaking
and damages were concentrated near and along the epicentral area and the ground rupture, respectively.
Severe damages were generally observed on structures like school buildings, bridges and irrigation canals.
Minor to severe damages were likewise observed on un-engineered houses and facilities that were manifested
as small fissures on floors and walls or even as total collapse of walls and houses. Phenomena like tsunami,
landslides, rockslides and liquefaction were not observed except for the tsunami due most probably to
underwater landslide and minor rockslides in western part of Ticao Island.
Aftershocks were usually observed near and along epicentral area and are expected to last up to about a
month after the mainshock. Based on PHIVOLCS historical data and other previous events gathered through
the QRT field investigations, the return period of large magnitude earthquakes along the Masbate Segment of
PFZ can be as short as five years or as long as thirty years with an average of about 10 years. Typical large
earthquakes along this part of the PFZ usually have magnitudes from Ms 6.0 to Ms 7.0. Furthermore, it is very
notable that even earthquakes with less than Ms 6.0 produced ground rupture along the Masbate Segment
and caused significant damages near and along the location of the Masbate Segment. Considering the possible
locations of the recent significant events along Masbate Segment and the scale of damage suffered by man-
made structures, a closer study on these historical events is highly recommended. Moreover, information
dissemination about earthquakes should be regularly undertaken together with the implementation of an
annual earthquake drill especially in schools and government offices.
At present, the Uson splay of the PFZ in Uson vicinities cannot yet be all together discounted. Further studies
will be undertaken to ascertain its level of activity and its location.

Recommendations and Future Activities

To further understand the activity along the Masbate Segment of PFZ, the following activities will be forthwith
undertaken.
 Detailed mapping, if possible, of the whole February 2003 ground rupture and continuous
measurements of horizontal and vertical displacements to monitor possible post-earthquake
deformation using the temporary benchmarks established on some selected areas.
 Installation of permanent benchmarks along the Masbate Segment wherein future movement will be
measured more extensively.
 Encourage the local populace to mark the location of the ground rupture as a reminder of the active
fault location and to prevent future inhabitants in constructing any structures within the 5m-buffer zone
from the active fault or from the deformation zone caused by ground rupture.
 More intensive information dissemination campaign in Masbate Island and adjoining islands and
provinces to allay fears of future large magnitude earthquakes.
 Production and distribution of posters, leaflets and brochures written in Tagalog and in local dialect.
 Production of visual aids for lectures that will be conducted in areas where modern equipment are
not available.
 Establish links with local barangay officials in noting time and date of felt earthquakes in their
localities, information that should be immediately relayed to the PHIVOLCS MMP station in Masbate City.
 Immediate and thourough study on the structural soundness of all structures, both engineered and
non-engineered, by the concerned authorities.
 Immediate evacuation of severely damaged buildings and thus, eliminating further usage of damaged
facilities and exposure of local inhabitants to possible future collapse.
 Active and practical integration of earth science to school curriculum and strict implementation of
the annual earthquake drill especially in schools and government facilities.
 Active participation of the Disaster Coordinating Councils from all levels in terms of disaster
preparedness prior to large events and rapid damage assessment after a large magnitude earthquake like
the 15 February 2003 event.
 Identification of evacuation sites and evacuation routes so that local inhabitants would know where
to go in case of major earthquakes or whenever the need arises that they have to evacuate their
premises/residence. Further studies on the historical events along the Masbate Segment of PFZ.

References

 PHIVOLCS Earthquake Information # 3

for the 1:47 pm 15 February 2003 event
 USGS Earthquake Information Website
http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/FM/previous_mom.html
 Lanuza, 1994
 Dela Cruz and Torrevillas, 2003
 Bautista, 1999
 SEASEE
 Torrevillas and Dela Cruz,
1998 Active Faults Mapping Comp 2000

Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the following whose help and support made our investigations possible:
 NDCC-OCD Ret. Gen. Rosales
 ASEP and Engr. Ronnie Izon
 PICE Legaspi?
 Masbate Governor
 Provincial Administrator
 Assist. Provincial Administrator
 Masbate City Mayor
 Masbate City Engineer
 Uson Mayor and constituents
 Dimasalang Mayor and contituents
 Palanas Municipal Administrator
 Mr. Enrico Camacho and family
 Barangay Nabangig Kagawad and wife
 Cataingan Mayor
 Cataingan Police Chief
 Ms. Nilda of Masbate City Mayor’s office

Palimbang Earthquake (2002 Ms 6.8)

2002 March 06 Ms6.8 Palimbang Earthquake

Summary of the event:

Ma. Leonila P. Bautista and et al.

The earthquake occurred on March 6, 2002 at 05:15 am (local time). Its epicenter as located by PHIVOLCS is
at 6.1 N; 124.0 E; 81 km or about 81 km SW of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat. PHIVOLCS computed its depth of focus
at 15 km. Its surface magnitude was computed by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center as 6.8 while its moment
magnitude (Mw) and body wave magnitude (mB) were computed by the the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as
7.2 and 6.3, respectively. Based on the earthquake location and mechanism solutions, its source is attributed
by PHIVOLCS to subduction along the Cotabato Trench.

Fig 1. Shows the PHIVOLCS earthquake bulletin for this event.

As of March 9, 2002, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) records show that 8 people had died and 41 were
injured due to the earthquake. It affected 7,684 families in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North
Cotabato and South Cotabato including four cities and 17 municipalities (OCD Memorandum dated March 9,
2002). The quake damaged 4 road networks, 7 bridges, 36 school buildings, 29 business establishments, 1
megadike, 2 health centers and 17 public buildings. Damage amounted to 4.175 million pesos or about 80,000
US dollars.
The focal mechanism as determined by Harvard University (Figure 2a) is underthrusting along a NW-trending
plane with minor strike-slip component. The strike conforms to the established trend of the trench. The
USGS's solution for the event (Figure 2b) shows an almost similar mechanism with a slightly larger strike-slip
component than the solution of Harvard University.
Fig 2a. Focal Mechanism of the earthquake as determined by Harvard University

Fig 2b. Focal Mechanism of the earthquake as determined by USGS.

Historical Seismicity:

Based on the PHIVOLCS catalog, the area is characterized by moderate to high intensity (Figures 3a and 3b) as
shown by seismicity plots for the last 100 years. The location of the 2002 event is very near the location of the
1976 Ms 7.9 event.

Fig 3a. Seismicity of Mindanao for the last 100 years. Arrows point to the locations of the 1976 and 2002
earthquakes (source: PHIVOLCS catalog)
Fig 3b. Earthquakes with Ms 6.5 and above and depths 0-100 km for the last 100 years (source: PHIVOLCS
catalog)

The quake's source region, the Cotabato Trench, is an active N- to NE-dipping subduction zone system whose
slab has been traced down to 150 km deep based on earthquake data (B. Bautista, 1996). Figure 4a shows a
section called N-N’ that traces the trend of the trench based on seismicity data. The figure also shows the slab
to be moderately-dipping while a cluster of hypocenters are found at 0-100 km depth. Figure 4b shows the
location of section N-N’ where the seismic cross section (section N-N’) was cut. The trench's past movement
had caused large magnitude earthquakes to occur such as the August 17, 1976 Moro Gulf Earthquake that
killed more than 3000 people due to high tsunami waves that swept many towns facing the Moro Gulf
including Cotabato and Pagadian Cities.

Fig 4a. Downgoing slab of the Cotabato Trench (labelled CT) as defined by seismicity data (after B. Bautista,
1996)
Fig 4b. Map showing the location of line N-N’, the cutting plane used for Figure 4a (after B. Bautista, 1996)

Impacts:

The quake's ground shaking intensities at various places were estimated using the Fukushima and Tanaka's
attenuation (1990) relation (Figure 5). The highest intensity is estimated to be Intensity IX in the epicentral
region specifically in the town of Palimbang in the province of Sultan Kudarat. The quake was estimated to
have been felt at Intensity VIII in the town of Maitum in the province of Sarangani and in the town of Lebak of
Sultan Kudarat province. Meanwhile, the observed intensity reports are shown in Figure 6 and are based on
actual reports of PHIVOLCS field stations, Office of Civil Defense and the mass media.

Fig 5. Predicted isoseismal map using Fukushima and Tanaka's attenuation model (1990) and Gutenberg and
Richter's intensity-acceleration relation.

Fig 6. Isoseismal map of the event. Intensity reports based on actual accounts.

Tsunami Model:

Dr. Yuchiro Tanioka, PHIVOLCS JICA Expert, modeled for the possible tsunami generated by the event. He
computed for a possible 3-m high tsunami in the town of Palimbang in the province of Sultan Kudarat. Based
on the modeling results, the value progressively decreases from said point till it reaches to only about 30 cm
at Lagung Point in Maguindanao province NW of Palimbang and about 1 m in the town of Kiamba, east of
Palimbang. Dr. Tanioka also modeled the tsunami waves at 1, 5 and 10 minutes after the earthquake. The 1-
minute map (Figure 7a) indicates a recession of sea water, the results of which are consistent with the
observations of the local people. Likewise, the 5- (Figure 7b) and 10-minute (Figure 7b) maps show that
waves had already came back to inundate the shore five and ten minutes after the main shock.
Fig 7a. Model of tsunami waves one minute after the main shock (after Y. Tanioka, 2002). Blue shaded areas
show the location of areas where recession of water is expected. Eyewitness accounts in the town of
Palimbang in Sultan Kudarat and in Maitum and Kiamba towns in Sarangani province conform to the results
of the model.
Fig 7b. Model of tsunami waves five minutes after the main shock (after Y. Tanioka, 2002). The figure shows
that five minutes after the main shock, the water has already rushed back to the shore. Again, this is
consistent with the eyewitness accounts.

Fig 7c. Model of tsunami waves10 minutes after the main shock (after Y. Tanioka, 2002)

Meanwhile, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) issued a tsunami bulletin at 5:41 AM that stated that
"no destructive Pacific-wide tsunami exists" (Figure 8). This was received at PHIVOLCS at 6:42 AM by fax.
Since the area affected was in the Celebes Sea and away from the Pacific Ocean, the PTWC bulletin was quite
accurate.
Fig 8. Copy of the fax sent by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) to PHIVOLCS by fax.

Actual Observations:

1. Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat

Palimbang is a coastal town of 40,000 people (NCS), 1995). In this place, a concrete chapel collapsed due to
intense shaking (PHIVOLCS QRT Report). No one died as a result of the collapse because the church has
previously been abandoned due to military operations in the area. However, one person was reported dead
and seven wfrom Barangays Poblacion, Badiangan and Colubo were injured. Two people were injured and
were hospitalized (OCD Region XII, March 9, 2002). General Magsino reported to PHIVOLCS Main Office that
the sea was observed to have receded 150 m from the shoreline. It then went back 75 m inland damaging two
boats (General Magsino and PHIVOLCS QRT Report).

2. Maitum, Sarangani
Maitum (pop: 35,000) is the neighboring town of Palimbang. It belongs to the province of Sarangani province.
The highway linking Maitum and Palimbang and places in Barangays Pinol and Lipo were affected by
landslides. A repeater antenna fell. A Baptist Church and a water tank tilted. In Barangay Mabay and Sitio
Talikod, three sandboils measuring 8-10 cm wide and 12 cm deep were observed. Cracks on the ground
measuring 5-10 cm wide, 2 cm deep and 30 cm long were observed at Sitio Saub in Barangay Mabay and in
Nolasco St. Water was observed to have receded 300 m. A pumpboat was totally damaged and dead fish were
observed soon after (PHIVOLCS QRT Report). Two persons died at Barangay Mabay due to falling hollow
blocks while five others were injured in Barangays Kawa, Old Poblacion and Kiambing (OCD Region XII, March
7 and 9, 2002). One church, eight houses, a school stage and a five-span concrete fence of Rude Elementary
School were totally damaged (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002). One convent, 18 houses, a water reservoir, the
Edenson Mission College Building and two business establishments were partially damaged (OCD Region XII,
March 7, 2002). A vehicle and two fishponds were damaged (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002). About 10,000
people were evacuated (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002) and stayed in schools and gymnasium (Ms. Fe Falgui,
local resident (083) 509 4038/509 4028).

3. Kiamba, Sarangani
Kiamba (pop: 39,000) is the next shore town after Maitum. Two public markets made of wood located in
Barangay Kiamba and Lagundi collapsed. A local resident described the quake as very frightening and "parang
hinahalungkay galing sa ilalim" (Ms. Fe Falgui, local resident (083) 509 4038/509 4028). The Sarangani Cable
Office was totally damaged. Walls of several houses collapsed leaving only posts and beams behind. Two walls
in two classrooms of the Suli Elementary School fell. At the Southern Cotabato Academy and at the Bagtasan
Elementary School, a fence and a wall collapsed, respectively. Three churches sustained slight damage. Ten
houses were partially damaged while five houses built in 1976 were totally destroyed. Piles of softdrink bottes
toppled down. Cracks were observed along downtown Kiamba. Tual Bridge sank by 6 cm. Water pipes were
destroyed. Thirteen persons from Barangays Nalus, Suli, Poblacion, Laabuk-Tual, Kling, Tablao, Tual, Lagundi,
Kapate and Tabak-Tual were injured (OCD Region XII, March 7 and 9, 2002; PHIVOLCS QRT Report). Water
receded 5-8 m three times (Mr. Rommel Palge, local govt ofc (083) 509 4038). Afterwards, water was again
observed to rise (Mr. Leonardo Esteban, local resident (083) 509 4069). As a result, people went up the
mountain. As of 1 PM of March 7, the Mayor of Kiamba refuses to allow people to return back to their homes.
NDCC requested for an advisory from PHIVOLCS that it was safe to go back to their homes. About 32,000
people or more than 80% of its local population were evacuated at the Tumadang Elementary School and
Iglesia ni Cristo Church (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002).

4. Maasim, Sarangani
Maasim (pop: 32,000) is the next town after Kiamba following the highway. A four-span school fence of San
Felipe Central Elementary School located in Barangay Colon collapsed (PDCC Alabel; (OCD Region XII, March
7, 2002). Three houses in Barangay Tinoto and Lomatil were partially damaged (OCD Region XII, March 7,
2002; PHIVOLCS QRT Report).

5. Alabel, Sarangani
Alabel (pop: 46,000) is the capital of Sarangani province. A child died when hollow blocks fell on him while
another one man died at the time of the ground shaking (Source: Ms. Gay Melani Palma of DSWD Alabel tel no.
(083) 508 2177 as relayed by Mr. Milo Tabique of PHIVOLCS Kidapawan Station).

6. Glan, Sarangani
Glan (pop: 74,000) is another coastal town along Sarangani Bay. In this place, a big rock fell disrupting traffic.
Landslides were also reported in Barangays Kapatan and Alegado (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002; Malaya,
March 7, 2002). A bridge collapsed in Barangay Small Margus isolating the barangays of Batulaki, Kaltuad and
Santo Nino (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002). The quake caused a one-m wide depression on the concrete road
at the Glan subport (Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 7, 2002). A mosque in Barangay Burias and a Barangay
Multipurpose hall at Barangay Baliton collapsed (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002). An old school building in
Barangay Kapatan was totally damaged (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002).

7. Bula, Sarangani
An undetermined number of residents were evacuated to higher grounds (Malaya, March 7, 2002).

8. Malapatan, Sarangani
Malapatan (pop: 48,000) is the next town NE of Glan. Landslides were reported by the Office of Vice
Governor)

9. Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat

In this town of 34,000 people, a market collapsed (Malaya, March 7, 2002; OCD Region XII, March 11, 2002).
10. Isulan, Sultan Kudarat
Three houses in Kolambog, seven houses in Barangay Tayugo, Barangay Hall in Kolambog, a Catholic Church in
Barangay Kalawag were partially damaged (OCD Region XII, March 11, 2002). The public market building in
Baraangay Kalawag, municipal hall building in Barangay Kalaaawaag II and the department store building in
Kalawag III sustained cracks (OCD Region XII, March 11, 2002). The fence of barangay plaza in Kolambog was
damaged (OCD Region XII, March 11, 2002).

11. Tacurong City

A 74-old man in Barangay Baras died of heart attack during the earthquake (OCD Region XII, March 7 and 9,
2002; Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 7, 2002). The walls of 14 houses in the LGU Resettlement Project in
Barangay San Pablo cracked (OCD Region XII, March 7 and 11, 2002). One house in Barangay San Rafael and
one church in Barangay New San Isabela were damaged (OCD, March 11, 2002).

12. Surallah, South Cotabato

Surallah (pop: 62,000) is a town in Allah Valley located in the lowlands after the Sarangani mountain range. In
this place, a house collapsed (Source: DSWD Alabel as relayed to Mr. Tabique of PHIVOLCS Kidapawan Seismic
Station) and 158 others were damaged (OCD, March 11, 2002). A hanging bridge at Barangay Buenavista and
a megadike at Barangay Centralla were partially damaged (OCD Region XII, March 7 and 11, 2002). Two were
injured, one of them due to burns sustained while cooking (OCD Region XII, March 9, 2002). 274 families from
the barangays of Lamsugod, Buenavista, Tubi-Allah, Veterans, Moloy, Duengas, Lolongbasing, Dalaay, Talahik
and Central were affected (Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council, March 11, 2002).

13. Koronadal City, South Cotabato

Koronadal (pop: 118,000) is the capital of South Cotabato and is found NE of the town of Surallah after the
Roxas Mountain Range. Two classrooms of the Barangay Cacub Elementary School and the stage of the
Siodina Elementary School Building collapsed. (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002). The firewall of the Agreda
Station and that of the Multipurpose Building of Barangay San Roque also collapsed (OCD Region XII, March 7,
2002). The NDMU Dormitory and 10 m of its concrete fence facing the DPWH Building collapsed (OCD Region
XII, March 7, 2002). A 25-m portion of the wall of the LAPCO Warehouse collapsed (OCD Region XII, March 7,
2002). 15 other houses either collapsed or were damaged (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002). The Masagan
Bridge, concrete bridge and walls of Barangay Saravia Elementary School at Barangay Saravia, the approach of
the Ferry Bridge, the San Roque Elementary School in Barangay San Roque, the MSST College of Technology
Building, the KCC Mall, the overpass of the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital and the Elan Building suffered
cracks (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002; Malaya, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Manila Bulletin, March 7, 2002).
The same were sustained by the walls of the Dungan Elementary School, Mangga Elementary School, Marbel 8
Elementary School, Mambucal Primary School, Mercury Drugstore and Chiu Kim Building (OCD Region XII,
March 7, 2002). Two posts of the South Cotabato Electric Company were left leaning (OCD Region XII, March
7, 2002). The springs of the Dungan Lahek, Prisga and El Gawel were damaged (OCD Region XII, March 7,
2002).

14. T'boli, South Cotabato

In T'boli (pop.: 54,000), a cooperative building and a health center in Barangay Dumangas collapsed (OCD
Region XII, March 7 and 11, 2002; Malaya and Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 7, 2001). A solar drier,
barangay stage, day care building, roads of Barangay Afus, barangay properties, a bridge approach at
Barangay Dumangas and two houses were damaged (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002). About 90% of fishpens
along Allah River and four houses were washed out (OCD Region XII, March 7 and 11, 2002). Landslides were
observed at Barangays Afus and Sabang zigzag road (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002). 3,898 families from the
barangays of New Dumangas,, Laconon, Datal Dlanag, Salacafe and Tudok were isolated when the Sapali/Gao
Bridge was washed out by the floodwaters of Lake Maughan (OCD Region XII, March 6 and 9, 2002).
15. Lake Maughan, Parker Volcano
Parker Volcano, one of the Philippine's 22 active volcanoes, has crater lake perched on its summit. The lake
earlier breached in 1995 and repeat of this incident has been a serious concern for communities along the
slopes of the volcano. After the earthquake, numerous landslides occurred at the crater wall near the Lake
Maughan outlet. It covered two sabo dam areas. One of the landslides occurred at 3:20 AM coincident with a
M5.0 aftershock (see list of aftershocks in this report; OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002). Water level at Gao
reportedly increased after the earthquake. Brown smoke with accompanying sulfuric smell was observed at
Mt. Melengbingay. Big cracks along trail Salacafe to Lake Maughan and from Salacafe to Barangay New
Dumangas (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002) were observed. The road from Sitio Montil to Barangay Salacafe
proper upslope to Lake Maughan is unpassable. In the morning of March 7, 2002 at 5:20 AM, the walls of Lake
Maughan collapsed and released waters that swept the town of New Dumangas, T'boli, South Cotabato and
killed 3 people (Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 7, 2002 quoting a Major Julieto Ando of the Army's 6th
Infantry Division in Mindanao).

16.Lake Sebu, South Cotabato

Three persons from Barangays Lamhalak and Lamdalag died when hollow blocks fell on them (OCD Region
XII, March 7 and 9, 2002; Malaya and Philippine Star, March 7, 2002). Two were also injured (OCD Region XII,
March 7, 2002). Two houses collapsed (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002) and 285 houses were partially
damaged (OCD, March 11, 2002) The town hall cracked (Manila Bulletin, March 7, 2002). A health center, 15
houses in Barangays Poblacion, Kubli and Lake Lahit and 20 school buildings in Barangay Lake Lahit were
partially damaged (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002). A two-hectare area planted to gemelina and lamcade was
covered by landslide (OCD Region XII, March 7 and 11, 2002). A total of 116 families from Barangay Lamcade,
Sitio Bagong Silang, Sitio Kaunlaran and Barangays Maculan and Halilan were evacuated (OCD Region XII,
March 7, 2002) while 1247 families from Baranagays Halilan, Lower Maculan, Upper Maculam, Denlag and
Lamcade were isolated (PDCC, March 10, 2002). Damage to Maculan Bridge costs 2 million pesos (PDCC,
March 10, 2002).

17.Santo Nino, South Cotabato

The concrete fences of an elementary school in Baarangay Elementary School and the Barangay Teresita
quadrangle collapsed (OCD Region XII, March 11, 2002). The old building of the publicc market also collapsed
(OCD Region XII, March 11, 2002). A house in Barangay San Vicente was partially damaged (OCD Region XII,
March 11, 2020). The terminal building and restaurants in Pob Public Market was damaged (OCD Region XII,
March 11, 2002). A footbridge connecting Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat was damaged by floods amounting to
six million pesos. Crops that were about to be harvested amounting to more than seven million pesos were
destroyed by the flashfloods (PDCC, March 10, 2002).

18.Tupi, South Cotabato

Eight houses at Barangays Tuben and Bunao were partially damaged (OCD Region XII, March 7 and 11, 2002).
Two old churches collapsed (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002; Malaya and Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 7,
2002) while four others (SDA, Southern Baptist, Calvarym Tuben and Bunao) were damaged (OCD Region XII,
March 7 and 11, 2002). A 30-m wall of the Old Knights of Columbus Building collapsed while a street light was
damaged (OCD Region XII, March 7 and 11, 2002). One street light was damaged (OCD, March 11, 2002).

19.Tantangan, South Cotabato

Four houses were damaged while an old elementary school building at Barangay Libas collapsed (OCD, March
11, 2002). The walls and floors of the New Lambunao Elementary School and the multipurpose pavement and
stage in Barangays New Lambunao and Cabuling cracked (OCD, March 11, 2002). The water system was also
damaged (OCD, March 11, 2002). Two people were injured and were hospitalized (OCD Region XII, March 9,
2002).
20.Banga, South Cotabato
Nine houses were partially damaged while three houses were totally damaged (OCD region XII, March 11,
2002). A span of the Rizal Elementary School collapsed while the altar of a Catholic Church in Barangay Kusan
was partially damaged (OCD region XII, March 11, 2002). The Sapali Bridge cracked (OCD Region XII, March
11, 2002). A piggery farm at Barangay Liwanany was partially damaged (OCD Region XII, March 11, 2002).
Eight barangays were affected including livestock (OCD Region XII, March 11, 2002). Two people from
Barangay Cinco were injured (OCD Region XII, March 9, 2002).

21.Norala, South Cotabato

Fourteen houses, two warehouses, a stage, a road, a motorcyle and the San Jose Elementary School Building
were partially damaged (OCD, March 11, 2002).

22.General Santos City

General Santos City (pop:327,000) is the prime city of South Cotabato. A house totally collapsed (OCD-Region
XII, March 7 and 11, 2002). Walls of schools (MSU HS, J.P. Laurel and Divina Gracia Elem. School), hotel near
the coast (Sydney Hotel), and that of the Philippine National Police Headquarters fell. The editing machine of
ABS-CBN media station and a steel water tank servicing 1000 people of a subdivision (Dona Soledad Subd)
also fell. Two police cars were crushed when the walls of the PNP headquarters fell on them. Cracks were
sustained by the walls of the Notre Dame of Dadiangas College, Yap Mabuhay Building and stockyard, SAFI
Building, Dolores Hospital, SMC Stockyard, Kimball Plaza and Department Store, City Christian Fellowship
Center, 10 & 10 24-Hour Grocery Store, New Era University, City Hall Hotel Filipino Building, Gaisano Mall,
Peninsula Rural Bank, Gillamac Building, WHC Building., District Building, Barrio 8 Hall Building, Lamco
Building, firewall of the Cooperative Building, a building under construction and the approach of Palian Bridge
(OCD-Region XII, March 7, 2002). The approach of a bridge in Barangay General Paulino Santos was damaged
(Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 7, 2002). There was panic at a tuna factory causing injury to 100 people
among the 1,000 workers (Malaya, March 7, 2002). Four electric posts in Barangay Bula fell causing power
failure (OCD-Region XII, March 7, 2002). Water supply was also disrupted during the earthquake. Power
resumed after lunchtime on the same day. One 54-year old died of heart attack during the earthquake while
nine others were injured (OCD-Region XII, March 7 and 9, 2002).

23. Cotabato City

Nine houses made of light materials at Barangay Kalanganan Mother collapsed (OCD Region XII, March 7 and
11, 2002). Two mosques were partially damaged Almonte Ext. and in Sitio Macaquiling, Barangay Sultan
Kudarat. The Mega Market (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002) suffered cracks . Power went off during the
earthquake (Malaya, March 7, 2002). A man repairing a transmission line along Jose Lim Sr St. was
electrocuted (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002) Philippine Star, March 7, 2002). Two were injured by stray
bullets which came from shots fired to rouse sleeping residents (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002). Ten
familiesin Barangay Kalanganan 2 were evacuated for fear of tsunami (OCD Region XII, March 7, 2002).

24. Zamboanga City

Animals were frightened causing dogs to howl and chickens to crow. Plates and bottles rattled waking up
sleeping people. People described the quake as strong and caused dizziness and fear. Fright caused them to
hide under tables
(Malaya, March 7, 2002)

25. Davao City

A person died of heart attack during the earthquake. Guests in high-rise hotels panicked and were hesitant in
going back to their rooms for fear of aftershocks (Philippine Star, March 7, 2002). Power went off during the
earthquake (Malaya, March 7, 2002).
26. Iligan City
An electric transformer in the commercial district fell (Philippine Star, March 7, 2002).

27. Other Places

Kidapawan City : Intensity IV
Bislig, Surigao del Sur : Intensity III
Pagadian City : Intensity III
Mati, Davao Oriental : Intensity III
Dipolog City : Intensity III
Malaybalay, Bukidnon : Intensity III
Power tripped off for some seconds after the quake
Butuan City : Intensity II
Hibok Hibok Volcano : Intensity I

Aftershocks:

From March 6 to 9, parameters of 20 aftershocks were large enough to have been determined using the
PHIVOLCS national seismic network and the USGS global network. Table 1 lists the parameters of these
aftershocks while Figure 9 shows the plot of the locations of these events. The largest aftershock occurred at
2:27 AM on March 9. It was located south of the main shock, with depth of 5 km and Ms of 6.0. It was felt at
Intensity III at General Santos City, Intensity II at Davao City and Intensity I at Cagayan de Oro City. Its
mechanism as determined by USGS is normal faulting.

Fig 9. Aftershocks till March 9, 2002 as determined using PHIVOLCS and USGS data

Date Local Time Depth Ms mb Mw Epicenter Intensity

March 6 05:39 AM 33 5.0 6.240 ; 124.100 General Santos – Intensity III

 March 6 11:25 AM 33 4.6 5.390 ; 126.940

March 6 12:08 PM 33 4.5 6.160 ; 125.310 Kiamba – Intensity IV

March 6 01:10 PM 33 6.230 ; 124.320

March 6 01:38 PM 33 4.7 6.230 ; 124.320

March 6 10:36 PM 26 4.6 5.1 5.830 ; 124.79 0 General Santos City – Intensity III; Zambo

March 7 03:19 AM 33 5.0 5.170 ; 124.720 Caused another landslide at Lake Maugh

March 7 11:30 AM 29 3.8 6.184 ; 124.657

March 7 11:49 AM 12 3.3 5.557 ; 124.392

March 7 06:37 PM 58 3.8 4.6 5.459 ; 124.306 General Santos – Intensity I

March 7 06:42 PM 10 3.4 6.026 ; 123.871

March 7 09:56 PM 48 3.5 5.475 ; 124.373

March 8 01:48 PM 32 3.3 5.592 ; 124.018

March 8 03:56 AM 20 3.0 5.329 ; 124.501

March 8 07:59 AM 24 4.9

March 8 08:07 AM 23 2.9 4.9 5.269 ; 124.674 General Santos – Intensity I

March 8 08:37 AM 25 4.7 5.700 ; 124.420

March 9 02:27 AM 23 6.0 General Santos – Intensity III; Davao – In

March 9 03:08 AM 1 3.2 5.209 ; 123.184 General Santos – Intensity II

March 9 03:35 AM 17 3.5 5.288 ; 123.782 General Santos – Intensity I

PHIVOLCS Response:

A few hours after the earthquake, PHIVOLCS sent a letter informing Her Excellency President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo about the details of the event. Copies were also furnished the National Disaster
Coordinating Council (NDCC) and the Department of Science and Technology. PHIVOLCS also deployed
technical personnel from its General Santos City seismic station to investigate the impacts of the earthquake
especially to the coastal towns fronting the location of epicenter. The PHIVOLCS staff reached as far as Kiamba
but was advised by local authorities to desist from going further to Palimbang due to peace and order
problems. PHIVOLCS seismic stations in General Santos City, Zamboanga, Davao and Cotabato were swamped
with calls and inquiries from the local public and media. At the same time, they had to attend to the picking
earthquake phase readings for sending to Main Office for processing. PHIVOLCS Main Office personnel took
turns answering queries from the public especially 24 hours after the main shock. PHIVOLCS also issued
several earthquake bulletins as more data came, the latest was bulletin no. 5. At the request of the NDCC,
PHIVOLCS also issued an advisory to the coastal towns of Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat permitting them the
local residents to go back to their homes. PHIVOLCS further advised them to seek the opinion of structural
engineers regarding safety of their homes and places of work from future earthquakes.

Fig 10. Copy of the PHIVOLCS advisory issued in the afternoon of March 7, 2002 to the National Disaster
Coordinating Council (NDCC) as requested.

References:

 Bautista, Bartolome. 1996. Seismotectonic Implications of Recent Philippine Earthquakes. M.A.

Thesis. State University of New York. Binghamton, New York.
 Gutenberg
 Fukushima and Tanaka (1990)
 Malaya. March 7, 2002
 Manila Bulletin. March 7, 2002
 Office of Civil Defense (OCD). March 9, 2002. Update on the Effects of the Earthquake in Mindanao as
of 8:00 AM 09 March 2002. 2 pages
 Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region XII. March 7, 2002. Consolidated Report Re Effects of the March
6, 2002 Tectonic Earthquake in Region XII. 8 pages.
 Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region XII. March 11, 2002. Summary of Effects of March 6, 2002
Tectonic Earthquake in Region XII. 8 pages.
 Philippine Daily Inquirer. March 7, 2002
 Philippine Star. March 7, 2002
 PHIVOLCS Quick Response Team (QRT) report of the Investigation at Sarangani Province. March 7,
2002.
 Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC). March 11, 2002. Status Report as of March 10,
2002, 3:00 PM pn the Extent of Damage Caused by Earthquake that Struck South Cotabato on March 6,
2002, 5:15 AM. 3 pages
 Tanioka, Yuchiro. 2002. Maps of tsunami models for the March 6, 2002 (Ms 6.8) Sarangani
Earthquake. Unpubl. Data.

Bayugan Earthquake (1991 Ms 5.1)

1999 June 07 Ms5.1 Bayugan Earthquake

June 1999 Earthquakes in Agusan del Sur, Philippines

Summary

On June 7, 1999, a Ms 5.1 earthquake occurred at 3:45 PM (local time) and damaged the town of Bayugan in
Agusan del Sur. Using the PHIVOLCS seismic network, its epicenter was determined to be at 8.575 N lat,
125.754 E long or about 20 km south of the town of Bayugan. Its depth is estimated at 7 km. After two days in
June 9, an aftershock occurred and damaged the town of Talacogon also in Agusan del Sur. The epicentral
areas of both events are located in the Agusan Valley region, previously called by Maso (1911) as lying along
one of the “unstable portion of the line of fracture ...” due to the succession of damaging earthquakes that
occurred in the area in the latter part of 19th century. Agusan River meanders through the valley floor at a
general NW-trend. Mountain ranges bound the valley at its west and east sides. In the towns of Veruela and
Talacogon, many swamps and lakes are found; the largest of which is Lake Lumao located west of Talacogon.
The northern part of the valley belongs to Butuan City and the province of Agusan del Norte. Most part of the
valley, however, belongs to the province of Agusan del Sur. The two Agusan provinces became distinct from
each other from a presidential decree in 1969. Prior to this, there was only one Agusan province.
The earthquake caused damages in the town of Bayugan in the province of Agusan del Sur. Bayugan has a
population of 89,999 (National Statistics Office, 1996) distributed over 14 barangays. From among 9,752
dwelling units (National Census and Statistics Office, 1980), only 32 are classified as for commercial,
industrial and/or agricultural purposes. About 98% of the total units were classified as “housing units”. Hence
by 1995, the town of Bayugan may be described as small with few commercial buildings with most of its
structures built for housing purposes. PHIVOLCS scientists who visited the town right after the earthquake
noted that Bayugan has developed since then and by the time of the earthquake, had its own commercial
buildings, elementary and high schools, a church, a funeral home and a municipal building (Roberto Tiglao,
PHIVOLCS, personal communication, 1999). Most of these structures sustained damages from the earthquake
(unpublished Quick Response Team reports, 1999). Talacogon, meanwhile, is slightly less well-developed than
Bayugan.

Tectonic Setting and Seismicity

The affected areas are on the Agusan Valley region where the southern segment of the Philippine Fault passes
through (Figure 1). The fault can be traced from the east side of the Malimono Ridge or west Lake Mainit and
traverses the Agusan Valley floor in a NW direction. Another fault west of the ridge parallels the main trace
and becomes indistinct in the town of Cabadbaran. Meanwhile, a branch of the main fault swerves into the
southeast towards the shore town of Lianga. The town of Bayugan is at the junction where the SE-trending
splay of the NW-trending Philippine Fault branches off towards Lianga. A plot of earthquakes with Ms > 4.0
from 1960 to 1997 shows that seismicity in the epicentral area that originates mainly from the activity of the
Philippine Fault Zone (PFZ) is not so intense (Figure 2). The plot shows that most events are found along the
west Lake Mainit fault segment. Seismicity is dispersed throughout the valley area; most of these have small
magnitudes and shallow depths. Seismicity in the region is lower as compared to the offshore area between
the PFZ and the Philippine Trench, which is also a source of significant seismic activity. Large earthquakes had
affected the Agusan Valley area in the past and had also caused damage. Those that caused damages were the
earthquakes in 1879, 1912 and 1990. Data show that previous earthquakes that originated from the
Philippine Trench had not exacted that much damage to the Agusan Valley region.
Focal mechanism solutions of earthquakes from 1960 to present are shown in Figure 4. The data were derived
from the Harvard University and the National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) of the U. S. Geological
Survey (USGS). In the offshore area east of Mindanao, most mechanisms show underthrusting possibly due to
subduction-related activities. Offshore from the west Malimono segment, the mechanism of a shallow
earthquake on May 4, 1993 showed thrust faulting (Figure 4). In the Lake Mainit area, a Ms 5.5 event that
occurred on March 27, 1990 showed a left-lateral strike-slip faulting along a NW-trending fault line. This
quake caused damage to Butuan City and the towns of Jabonga, Santiago and Cabadbaran, all in Agusan del
Norte (Oanes and Salugsugan, 1990). There were also minor landslides at Diwata Range. Another event that
showed strike-slip faulting occurred southeast of Lake Mainit at Diwata Range on May 1, 1979. After a few
hours, this event was followed by an aftershock that showed normal faulting. Bautista (1996) related such
type of mechanism to extension leading to the formation of a pull-apart basin. No damage was reported for
these events. An earthquake with a normal mechanism occurred on August 12, 1989 near the Agusan del Sur
town of Esperanza. Likewise, no damage was reported. Meanwhile, the fault swerves to the SE from the
western Diwata Foothills area towards the seashore town of Lianga. Very near the town of Lianga, an
earthquake in November 22, 1978 showed normal faulting. Three events (August 27, 1983, two on November
2, 1984) in the southeast part of the valley showed left-lateral strike-slip movement possibly related to
movement of splays of the Philippine Fault.

Sites, Sizes and Effects of Past Large Earthquakes in the Area

The review of historical earthquakes by Bautista (1996) and further refined by Bautista and Oike (2000)
showed no earthquake event that may be related to the activity of the PFZ along the Agusan Valley segment
prior to 1879. This could either be an artifact of lack of earthquake records, a true lack of strong earthquakes
along this segment of the PFZ or miscalculation of earthquake size and epicenter due to sparse historical
earthquake acocunts.
On July 1, 1879, a damaging earthquake affected the west Lake Mainit fault segment of the Philippine Fault
Zone. The high intensity area covers the towns of Jabonga in Agusan del Norte, Mainit town in Surigao del
Norte and a place simply called “Surigao” possibly referring to present-day Surigao City (Letter of Fr. Luengo,
July 8, 1879). In the lakeshore towns of Jabonga and Mainit, hills and rocks slid down and the areas were
described as highly disturbed. Numerous, large fissures opened to as much as 3.6 m wide along the lakeshore
area. Some points along the lake disappeared while large landslides occurred. It caused a great fright among
the few inhabitants in the area. At least 12 large aftershocks were counted within 24 hour of the main shock.
Another place where significant damage to the environment was documented was in the town of Anao-oan
(site of present day San Francisco) in the province of Surigao del Norte. In this place, there were 40 houses
made of nipa. Fourteen tilted by as much as 25-30o while the rest collapsed. Two bridges were rendered
useless. There were conspicuous landslides along the steep mountains near the shore. At Bilaa point, there
was a report that a “fissure divided the promontory into two” (Letter of Fr. Luengo, July 8, 1879). While the
reports are scarce, it is possible that the fissure described here is a ground rupture. This could be confirmed
by detailed field investigations from the west Lake Mainit region northwards to the shoretown of San
Francisco. Liquefaction was also observed in this town with the emission of NW-SE trending sandboils. The
earthquake also created a potable water spring. Buildings sustained vertical cracks while floors tilted and
windows and doors jammed. A mangrove area sank by 300 m at Bilan Port, near Bilaa Point. There were also
numerous fissures, some measuring 4-6 cm wide. Some of these fissures later on closed. Movable objects were
thrown down and two statues fell. A thick-walled church made of coralline limestone and with galvanized iron
roof sustained both horizontal and vertical cracks (Letter of Fr. Luengo, July 8, 1879). Unlike Jabonga, there
were 40 events felt within a 24-hour period. The direction of motion is SSE-NNW (Centeno y Garcia,
November 1, 1879). Bautista (1999) inferred the epicenter to be at 9.350 N lat and 125.600 E. long and its Ms
to be 6.9 using felt are-Ms relations.
On July 11, 1912, a Ms 7.5 earthquake affected the NE Mindanao region. Damage and high intensity were
experienced by towns (La Paz, Bunauan, Veruela and Talacogon) in the Agusan Valley area where intense
ground shaking, liquefaction, widespread landslides and river/lake seiches occurred. Accuracy of location
during the turn of the century is in the order of +/- 5o due to the few number of participating global stations
during this time. While its epicenter was instrumentally located in the east Lake Mainit area, intensity data
suggest that its epicenter was probably along the valley area where the fault passes through.

Epicenters, Magnitudes and Depths of the June 7 and 9 events

The 3:45 PM event on June 7 was recorded by 20 PHIVOLCS seismic stations as far as Pasuquin Seismic
Station in Ilocos Norte. Its epicenter was determined to be at 8.575 N lat, 125.754 E long using eight P-wave
readings. Its depth is about seven km. The epicenter is about 15 kms from Bayugan, where the damages were
reported, and which is inside the the range of error of PHIVOLCS plotting.
Based on the earthquake’s location, the source is believed to be from the movement of the segment of the
Philippine Fault in Agusan Valley. While the magnitude of this quake may be considered as ‘moderate’, its
expected intensity at Bayugan town could be as high as Intensity VII for medium soil using the attenuation-
relation of Fukushima and Tanaka (1990). In Bayugan, poorly built structures collapsed, posts and
foundations of buildings sank or tilted. There were also reports of injuries due to falling debris or objects.
People in the epicentral area were frightened and most of them ran out when the earthquake occurred. After
two days at 9:05 AM on June 9, a Ms 5.0 earthquake again occurred near the epicentral area. While this
appears to be an aftershock of the June 7 event, its location is about 2 km north of the June 7 event. This event
caused damages to bridges, roads, schools, a commercial complex, telephone station and municipal hall of the
town of Talacogon also in Agusan del Sur. This was also felt in other towns inside Agusan Valley.
A large aftershock occurred in June 9 at 9:05 AM. By using 11 P-wave and 1 S-wave readings, the epicenter
was determined to be at 8.604 N lat, 125.648 E long and its depth to be about 14 km. Unlike the June 7 event,
this was most severely felt in the town of Talacogon.

Focal Mechanism of the June 7 earthquake

The NEIC which routinely publishes focal mechanism solutions of events with greater than Ms 5.5 did not
issue solutions for the June 7 as its magnitude was below the Ms 5.5 cut off magnitude. Instead, we used the
first motion data of 18 PHIVOLCS seismic stations to determine the solutions for the two events. Figure 4
shows the focal mechanism for this event. It shows a normal faulting with some strike slip component. This
correlates with the August 12, 1989 event shown in Figure 3 and this could be interpreted as possibly due to
movement along a pull-apart basin common in strike-slip environments.
Intensity Distribution
June 7 event
The most severely affected place is the town of Bayugan where structures collapsed. Based on the Philippine
Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS) of I to X, the intensity is assessed as Intensity VII in this town. PHIVOLCS
main office personnel and the QRT Bayugan team also conducted telephone and personal interviews to assess
the intensities at different sites. The following are the results of both the intensity survey and reports of
PHIVOLCS stations and as shown in Figure 5:
Bayugan, Agusan del Sur - Intensity VII
San Francisco, Agusan del Sur - Intensity V
Butuan City - Intensity V
Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur - Intensity IV
Lianga, Surigao del Sur - Intensity II
Cagayan de Oro City - Intensity II
Bislig, Surigao del Sur - Intensity II
Camiguin Island - Intensity I
June 9 event
The June 9 event damaged the town of Talacogon.
Talacogon, Agusan del Sur - Intensity VI
Bayugan, Agusan del Sur - Intensity V
Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur - Intensity IV
Butuan City - Intensity IV
Bislig, Surigao del Sur - Intensity IV
San Francisco, Agusan del Sur - Intensity IV
Lianga, Surigao del Sur - Intensity III
Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur - Intensity III

Foreshocks and Aftershocks

Figure 7 shows the background seismicity a month before the June 7 event. The events were small, ranging
from Ms 3.3 to 4.8 with depths between 7 to 53 km. No earthquake, therefore, may be considered as a
foreshock to this event based on the data. Table 1 lists the parameters of the background seismicity a month
before the quake. There were no recorded events in the epicentral area.
Figure 8 shows the 51 earthquakes plotted from the June 7 main shock until June 30, 1999. Most of the events
clustered around the June 7 main shock. Some, however, are located farther away (at most is 10 km) from the
fault trace. The largest aftershock is the June 9 events at 9:05 AM. While some of the aftershocks cluster along
the fault trace, some are spread out around the epicentral area. It is difficult to determine whether this was
caused by the sparse seismic stations in the area resulting in a dispersed aftershock plot or possibly due to
inhomogeneity of the rock units. Table 2 lists the aftershocks of the June 7 event, including their parameters,
as detected by the PHIVOLCS seismic network.
PHIVOLCS’ response
Since there was no PHIVOLCS station near the epicentral area and there was a need to determine actual
intensity in the epicentral, PHIVOLCS conducted intensity survery right after the quake through telephone
interviews of residents in Butuan City and the towns of Bayugan, Prosperidad and San Francisco.
During the same day , PHIVOLCS dispatched a Quick Response Team (QRT) composed of personnel from
PHIVOLCS seismic stations in Surigao City and Bislig. They were tasked to conduct ocular inspection of
reported damages, determine cause of damage, document impacts and to conduct information drive to allay
the fears of the local people. Their reports relayed on June 8 and 9 are shown in Appendices ‘A’ and ‘B’. A
second QRT team arrived on June 9 to assist the first team.
Two days after the main shock on June 9, a rumor that “an impending Intensity VIII earthquake in Agusan del
Sur” caused panic and confusion in the affected area. Classes were suspended as a result. As a result,
PHIVOLCS was swamped with calls regarding the veracity of this rumor. In the afternoon of June 9, PHIVOLCS
released an “Earthquake Update” that “categorically denied issuing statements that there will be a strong
earthquake in the area and that such rumors are ill-founded and do not have any scientific basis”.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The area where the June 7 and 9 earthquakes occurred is within a seismically active region. Data show that
the two events were not the biggest events that had occurred in this area during historical times. The June 7
event in the Agusan Valley region may be considered as part of a ‘normal’ earthquake activity within a
seismically active region. The event, despite its moderate magnitude, became damaging only because of
possible site amplification due to thick sedimentary fill in the area and the poor construction prevalent in the
locality of Bayugan. The area is also susceptible to liquefaction based on its local geology and as evidenced by
past liquefaction in the area (e.g. 1879, 1912 earthquakes). We have also observed that earthquake intensities
from previous earthquakes and also during the recent June 7 and 9 events were amplified due to the presence
of thick, water-saturated sedimentary deposits along the valley floor.
Our concern right now is that should there be another moderate to large earthquake along this segment of the
fault, some areas may experience strong ground shaking or may liquefy causing buildings and other
structures to fail. We therefore advise that structures in the area be regularly inspected by structural
engineers to evaluate their soundness. Buildings that are yet to be built should be properly anchored by pile
driving through the liquefiable layers to counter the possible effects of liquefaction.
The area which sustained the heaviest damage, Bayugan, is about 15 km from the epicenter determined using
the current PHIVOLCS stations. Similarly, the June 9 event was also several kilometers away from the
instrumental epicenter. We recommend that additional seismic stations in any of the valley towns (e. g.
Talacogon, San Francisco, Veruela), in Bukidnon and another in either Cabadbaran, Bayugan or Butuan City be
established to improve earthquake determination capability of PHIVOLCS. Site response evaluation studies
are recommended to pinpoint the reason why the damages caused by the June 7 and 9 earthquakes were far
from the instrumental epicenter. Mapping of the segment of the Philippine Fault should be done to finetune
location of faults determined from seismicity and digital terrain data. Information campaign about the
possible effects of future earthquakes in the Agusan Valley region should be started in order for local people
to be prepared for future earthquakes.

Acknowledgements
The contents are quoted mostly from the work of Bautista et al (1999) entitled “Seismic Characteristics of the
June 1999 Earthquakes in Agusan del Sur, Philippines: A Preliminary Report”

References
Allen, C. R. 1962. Geological Criteria for Evaluating Seismicity. Geological Society of America Bulletin. 86.
1041-1057.
Bautista, Bartolome. 1996. Seismotectonic Implications of Recent Philippine Earthquakes from 1980 to 1994.
Unpubl. M. A. thesis. State University of New York at Binghamton, New York, USA. 218 pp.
Bautista, Ma. Leonila P. 1996. Determination of the Epicenters and Magnitudes of Philippine Historical
Earthquakes (1589 to 1896). Unpubl. M.S. thesis. Kyoto University.
Bautista, Maria Leonila P. and Kazuo Oike. 2000. Estimation of the Epicenters and Magnitudes of Philippine
Historical Earthquakes. Tectonophysics. 317. 137-169.
Bautista, Ma. Leonila P., B. C. Bautista, E. Q. Amin and J. C. Salcedo. 1999. Seismic Characteristics of the June
1999 Earthquakes in Agusan del Sur, Philippines: A Preliminary Report. PHIVOLCS Internal Report.
Centeno y Garcia, Jose. 1879. Report dated November 1, 1879 about the July 1, 1879 earthquake. Submitted to
the Governor General of the Philippines.
Fukushima, Y and T. Tanaka. 1990. A new attenuation relation for peak horizontal acceleration of strong
earthquake ground motion in Japan. Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 757-783.
Fr. Luengo, S.J. 1979. Letter of Fr. Luengo, S. J. dated July 8, 1879 about the July 1, 1879 earthquake in Surigao.
Maso, Miguel Saderra. 1912. The Earthquake of the Agusan Valley and the Eastern Coast of Mindanao, July 12,
1911. Bull.. Seism. Soc. Am. II. June 1912. 141-142.
National Census and Statistics Office. 1980. Census of Population and Housing: Housing Characteristics of
Occupied Dwelling Units by Region, Province, City and Municipality, Philippines. Special Report No. 5. Manila.
1-382.
National Statistics Office. 1996. Census of Population. Report No. 1-P (Caraga): Population by Province,
City/Municipality and Barangay. Manila. 1-44.
Oanes, Alejandro and Luisito M. Salugsugan. 1990. Investigation of Agusan del Norte Earthquake on 0647 H
March 27, 1990. PHIVOLCS unpubl. Report of Investigation. 2 pp.
Quebral, Ramon D., Manuel Pubellier and Claude Rangin. 1996. The Onset of the Movement on the Philippine
Fault in Eastern Mindanao: A Transition from a Collision to a Strike-Slip Environment. Tectonics. 15. 4.713-
726.
Focal Mechanism

Strk1 197
Dip1 50
Rake1 -135
Strk2 75
Dip 2 57
Rake2 -50

P-axis Plunge 57
Azimuth 41
T-axis Plunge 4
Azimuth 137

Focal mechanism solution of the 07 June 1999 event using first motion data of 18 PHIVOLCS seismic stations.
Isoseismal Map of the 07 June 1999 (Ms=5.1) earthquake in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur. Intensity data based on
PHIVOLCS Station reports, investigation and interviews

Mindoro Earthquake (1994 Ms 7.1)

1994 November 15 Ms7.1 Mindoro Earthquake

*INSERT PDF HERE*

Luzon Earthquake (1990 Ms 7.9)

1990 July 16 Ms7.9 Luzon Earthquake

Contents:
Foreword

We conceived of this technical monograph on the July 16, 1990 Earthquake in a symbolic way as a medium by
which we can remember those who have died, were seriously injured and have lost their loved ones. It is also
a most fitting way to honor those who have helped us and who continue to help us through rehabilitation
efforts or the studies that will tame earthquakes through preparedness and risk management.
Beyond this symbolic value, this monograph has utmost practical importance for the Philippines, a country
which has now realized itself not only to be in the "developing" stage but also in the "disaster-prone" category.
I am sure that the prospective readers of this Compendium share both our experience and concern, being
members of the same "Ring of Fire" club or simply being concerned scientists and experts who believe that
the search for knowledge is best served by sharing knowledge.
During the last two decades, the Philippines has suffered several devastating earthquakes. In 1968, 200
people died when the Ruby Tower collapsed in a 7.3 magnitude earthquake in Manila. More than 6,000 people
died when a tsunami caused by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake in the Moro Gulf hit them in 1976. Then we had
the July 16, 1990 earthquake whose devastation is so far unequaled in deaths, property damage and
psychological shock.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) immediately initiated rehabilitation efforts
after the July 16 earthquake. Livelihood programs for the victims and the rehabilitation of damaged
watersheds were implemented. These, as well as the efforts of other government agencies and non-
governmental organizations, however, are mostly of a curative nature and are not enough. There must be
preventive approaches developed, if not against earthquakes (which we cannot prevent), at least in terms of
early warning, land use planning, improved building codes, and the like. President Aquino thus signed on
August 6, 1990 the Memorandum Order creating the "Inter-Agency Committee on Documenting and
Establishing Database on the July 1990 Luzon Earthquake".
This Inter-Agency Committee chaired by DENR and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) was
tasked to undertake a unified, systematic and scientific documentation of information on earthquakes,
particularly the July 16 killer quake for future planning and research. This is one product of the Inter Agency
Committee.
The results of direct or related studies on the July 16 earthquake gain additional importance now that there is
a need to again generate public interest and concern at the highest levels of government on how best to deal
with earthquakes. Over the past months, the July 16 "Killer Earthquake" seemed to have taken the backseat in
a series of prominent happenings including the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo and the national elections. For a
short while, interest was revived by the release in the news media of the Marikina or "Punongbayan" Fault.
But time has again eroded the attention focused accorded it. Those who have been to Baguio City, one of the
most devastated areas during the July 16 earthquake, can hardly see any of the fear, sorrow, shock and ruins
that characterized the city then. Almost everything has gone back to normal including the persistent and
increasing applications for subdivision development in the steep slopes of the city.
We certainly do not want to generate intense interest and concern on earthquakes with another earthquake.
The scientific information and the practical recommendations coming from the contributors to this
monograph would surely be more than enough. In a sense, this is much better as we can look at what had
happened and what we can do in a more objective, organized and even optimistic outlook.
To have learned nothing from the tragic events of July 16 would be callousness of the highest degree. To have
done nothing to develop strategies to prevent injury and damage should another earthquake occur would be
irresponsibility of the most serious proportions.
It may well be for us to remember how those trying to save schoolchildren pinned by concrete slabs, for lack
of proper equipment, had to commandeer hydraulic jacks from passing vehicles. Those who have relatives in
Baguio City can still recall the fear and the anxiety of not knowing what happened to their loved ones because
of broken communication lines. In the mosaic of collapsed buildings we should again take note of questions
related to siting considerations, risk assessment, structural foundations, architectural and civil engineering
designs, buffer Ones and safety corridors.
Fulgencio S. Factoran, Jr.

The July 16 1990 Luzon Earthquake Rupture

Raymundo S. Punongbayan*, Rolly E. Rimando*, Jessie A. Daligdig*

Glenda M. Besana*, Arturo S. Daag*, Takashi Nakata**, and
Hiroyuki Tsutsumi**
*Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
** Hiroshima University, Japan
ABSTRACT
The 16 July 1990 earthquake (Ms = 7.8) produced a 125 km-long ground rupture that stretches from
Dingalan, Aurora to Kayapa, Nueva Vlzcaya as a result of strike-slip movements along the NW segment of the
Philippine Fault Zone and its splay, the Digdig Fault. The earthquake epicenter was placed at 15º 42' N and
121º 7' E near the town of Rizal, Nueva Ecija. The surface rupture essentially followed the pre-earthquake
active fault trace along previously identified fault-related geologic and geomorphic features such as mole
tracks, sag ponds, offset streams and fluvial terraces, shutter and pressure ridges, scarplets, and similar
features, with only slight deviations in certain places. Secondary shears are present as localized features along
portions of the main rupture trace. Ground rupture, which had a general trend of N 40-60º W, was
predominantly left-lateral with measured vertical and horizontal displacements varying from 0.1-2.5 m and
0.2-6.2 m, respectively. Movement is concentrated along the main rupture although right-stepping en echelon
faults and trace discontinuities interrupt the narrow fault trace. The spatial distribution of these en echelon
faults suggests that these are surface expressions of fault bends and are more pronounced to the SE of the
epicenter. Asymmetry of fault length with respect to the epicenter, rupture arrest and displacement
distribution can be explained in terms of these rupture propagation barriers. Variation of horizontal and
vertical displacement values with distance shows a wavy pattern with some observed scissor-like reversals in
the vertical displacement along some segments of the fault. Rupture length and measured maximum
horizontal (6.2 m) and vertical (2.5 m) displacements are within the range of values observed worldwide, for
earthquakes of this magnitude.
Damage to buildings, infrastructures, and properties amounted to at least P 10B, a part of which was caused
by ground rupturing. Structures directly straddling the ground rupture were totally damaged as a result of
large lateral shifting and substantial vertical displacement. However, some houses within 1-2 m on either side
of the ground rupture survived owing to their light-weight construction while those built of reinforced
concrete within this zone suffered partial damage. Damages beyond 2m depended mainly on the structural
integrity of the building and effects of local topography and ground conditions. These observations
underscore the advantage of using lightweight materials for construction purposes as well as the need to
observe sound construction and design of buildings particularly in areas close to the ground rupture and in
places that may be affected by future movements along active faults.

INTRODUCTION
The 16 July 1990 earthquake (Ms=7.8) produced a 125 km-long ground rupture that stretches from Dingalan,
Aurora to Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya along a general N 40-60º W trend ( Figure 1 ). The earthquake epicenter was
placed at 15º 42' N and 121º 7' E near the town of Rizal, Nueva Ecija and was caused by strike-slip movements
along the NW segment of the Philippine Fault Zone and its splay, the Digdig Fault. Prior to the earthquake,
portions of the Digdig Fault along which the ground rupture later formed, were mapped and documented by
the authors and Takashi Nakata of Hiroshima University in connection with PHIVOLCS's active faults mapping
project. The 16 July event thus provided the corroboration to the recency of the fault's activity. While no
short-term prediction for the active fault was issued, its possible future reactivation was anticipated and
presented as among the constrains in planning in a seminar conducted in Baguio City a month before the
earthquake struck. The seminar was attended by planners and local officials from Region I and the Cordillera
Administrative Region.
Mapping of the extent of the ground rupture and the documentation of fault-related features, aside from their
value, will have significant implications for future land use and zonation planning, especially in areas close to
or transected by active faults. Future movements of these faults are expected to follow pre-existing fault
traces. Post-earthquake studies of the ground rupture may likewise provide additional insights into possible
scenarios that might be expected when the Digdig Fault or other active faults in the Philippines next move.
Furthermore, a study into the structural controls that affect rupture propagation arrest might provide us clues
where strong ground motions that generally and enable us to identify sites along the fault trace where strong
ground motions that generally account for a majority of earthquake-related damages might be expected

HISTORICAL SEISMICITY ALONG THE DIGDIG FAULT

Based on historical records, the 30 November 1645 earthquake may have originated from the same segment
of the Philippine Fault which ruptured on 16 July 1990. This particular event is one of the most destructive
earthquakes that affected Manila and large parts of Luzon, particularly in the uplands of Gapan, Nueva Ecija
(SEASEE, 1985). The earthquake was so strong that at least 25 % of the houses in Manila along were totally
damaged, leaving some 3,000 casualties. Earthquake-related effects ranged from fissuring of rice fields,
landsliding that dammed rivers, and river-flooding of settlement areas. The earthquake was said to have been
accompanied by a terrifying noise with felt aftershocks lasting until the following year. In 1892, a similarly
strong earthquake caused extensive damage over a wide area in Luzon but accounts are unclear as to its
possible epicenter. Some writers ascribe the earthquake to the Digdig Fault but the Puncan Church, an
eighteenth-century church located just 200 m from the 16 July ground rupture, was not affected by the 1892
earthquake, yet collapsed during the 16 July 1990 event.

THE GROUND RUPTURE

Location, Style and Pattern of Surface Faulting
Documentation and field mapping of the active fault prior to and after its movement on 16 July 1990 showed
ground rupture that the 1990 ground rupture closely followed the pre-existing active fault trace, with come
minor deviations in places. Earlier movements of the active fault before the July 16 event left many geologic
and geomorphic evidence, (such as mole tracks, sag ponds, offset streams and fluvial terraces, shutter and
pressure ridges and scarplets) suggesting its recent activity. Because diaplacements along active faults
essentially occur along or near the same fault plane and nearly always with the same sense of movement, the
location and pattern of future strike slip faulting can thus be predicted within reasonably close limits by
mapping such fault-related features.
A ground rupture is rarely confined to a simple narrow and distinct line. Instead, a complex fault pattern
results where the main fault zone is complicated by branching and formation of secondary faults where lesser
displacements occur. The main trace on the ground surface can be a single rupture or can consist of parallel,
branching, or interlacing fractures, the width of which may vary from a few centimeters to hundreds of
meters. In the case of the 16 July 1990 earthquake ground rupture, this zone is up to several meters wide
depending on local ground conditions. The fault zone is generally narrower in areas underlying firm
foundations (e.g., bedrock, adobe) than in places with soft substrate, such as sand and other fine sediments.
Secondary faults in the form of synthetic, antithetic and subparallel fractures are as far as 300 meters from
the main fault zone, as illustrated by the occurrence of secondary shears at Digdig, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija
( Figure 2 ) while branch faults may extend for a distance of 500 meters, as illustrated by the branch fault at
Rizal, Nueva Ecija ( Figure 3 ). In places, the narrow distinct fault trace is often interrupted by en echelon
traces and mole tracks ( Figure 4 ). In other locations, however, the compressional mounds between the ends
of en echelon faults are not very prominent ( Figure 5 ).

Variations in Amount of Slip Along the Fault

In general, displacement is not symmetrical along fault traces but may reach a maximum or a minimum near
one end of the fault and may show several high points of offset along the fault trace. For the 16 July ground
rupture, movement was predominantly left-lateral with measured horizontal and vertical displacement values
ranging from 0.1 - 6.2 m and 1.0 - 2.5 m respectively. The horizontal (H) and vertical (V) displacements when
plotted against distance from the NW terminus of the ground rupture ( Figure 6) show a wavy pattern having
points of sharp increase and decrease within relatively short distances. From NW to SE, a general decrease in
horizontal displacement is observed except near the termini where both horizontal and vertical
displacements approach zero values. Likewise, a plot of the net slip with distance from NW to SE ( Figure 7 )
shows a similar pattern owing to the predominantly strike-slip nature of movement along the ground rupture.
Moreover, inherent difficulties in estimating full displacement in some cases and possible imprecisions in
displacement measurements may also have contributed, albeit to a lesser degree, to the observed wary
pattern of displacement values along the fault trace. Figure 8 shows the variation in the sense and amount of
vertical displacement with distance along the ground rupture. From the figure, the amount of vertical
displacement generally increases from NW to SE, accounting for decreasing H/V values ( Figure 9 ) along this
direction. This is attributed to the tendency of the rupture for releasing stress by extension at the termination
point rather than propagating further to the SE. The sense of vertical displacement is likewise not uniform
(i.e., the upthrown block shifts from one side of the fault to the other) along the whole stretch of the fault
owing to local ground conditions. Thus as a whole, measured displacement values and sense of vertical
displacement along the ground rupture are characterised by unevenness and irregularities. Table
1summarizes the displacement data along the ground rupture.
Length of Surface Rupture and Maximum Displacement Vs. Earthquake Magnitude
Empirical relations between dimensions of faulting and earthquake magnitude have been derived from
studies of historical large earthquakes worldwide. Correlations have been made between magnitude and fault
length and between magnitude and maximum displacement q (Bonilla). Figure 10 for example, shows one
correlation between earthquake magnitude and length of surface rupture. Figure 11a illustrates the empirical
relation between magnitude and maximum surface displacement while Figure 11b shows the empirical
relation of length of surface rupture with maximum surface displacement. Plotting the pertinent data from the
16 July 1990 event into these figures indicates that the rupture length, magnitude and maximum surface
displacement values for the 16 July ground rupture are within the range of expected values based on
worldwide empirical data.

THEORY
Structural and Geometric Barriers
The presence of a barrier or a series of barriers along the fault rupture may constrain rupture propagation.
Barriers could be in the form of irregularities along the fault plane as manifested by bends and jogs, a
geometrical barrier near the rupture terminus, inhomogeneous barriers, or a combination of all of the above.
Fault jogs and bends are usually classified as either dilational or antidilational. Dilational jogs are associated
with small pull-apart basins while antidilational jogs are related to pop-up structures. Antidilational jogs
clearly perturb ruptures and form obstacles to both short- and long-term slip transfer along a fault. However,
dilational fault jogs seem to play an especially important role as preferred sites for rupture arrest (Sibson,
1987). Dilational fault jogs appear to behave as kinetic barriers which impede rapid slip transfer, but allow
slip to occur slowly due to the difficulties of quickly opening a linking extensional fracture mesh in a fluid
saturated crust (Sibson, 1987). Inhomogeneous barriers are those in which there are no obvious geometric
obstacles and are related to differences in resistance to breaking along parts of a fault.
Rupture Propagation
Rupture propagation is a function of the magnitude of the applied stress, barrier strength and the areal extent
of the barrier (Das and Aki, 1977). Crack tip propagation will be arrested if the areal extent of a barrier is
large (Das and Aki, 1977). Hence, when the areal extent of the barrier is small, it is broken as the crack tip
passes when the tectonic stress is relatively high or the crack tip proceeds beyond the barrier without
breaking it when the tectonic stress is relatively low. However, when the tectonic stress is neither high nor
low, then the barrier is initially unbroken as the crack tip passes but eventually breaks because of subsequent
increase in dynamic stress (Das and Aki, 1977).

DISCUSSION
The southeast extension of the fault (with respect to the epicenter) is more restricted compared to the
northern segment indicating that this part of the fault must have been more resistant to movement. Southeast
propagation of the ground rupture could have been constrained by the presence of a barrier or a series of
barriers.
Despite the considerable change in strike of as much as 30 degrees over a large area near Bato Ferry and
Bateria and the presence of a series of more limited bends south east of the epicenter ( Figures 12 and 13 ),
the rupture somehow still managed to propagate from the epicenter up to its south eastern terminus. The
ability of the fault rupture to overcome such a bend can be attributed to the large stress applied during
rupture propagation at this point on account of the proximity of the area to the epicenter. However, much of
the available energy may have been conceivably spent to overcome this particular barrier thus slowing down
rupture propagation in the process. In addition to this, irregularities along the fault plane might have
contributed to the slowing down of the propagation causing it to proceed in a series of jerks. As a
consequence of the rupture's uneven track, propagation was not smooth possibly resulting in the observed
irregular values of slip along the whole stretch of the surface rupture. As the rupture encountered more
barriers on its southeastward course, more energy was spent, until finally the remaining energy was no
longer sufficient for the rupture process to progress beyond its termination point between Gabaldon and
Dingalan. Furthermore, the presence of a formidable geometric barrier due to the abrupt bending of the
Philippine Fault Zone from Dingalan to an almost southward direction ( Figure 14 ) may have greatly
influenced the arrest and subsequent termination of the ground rupture.
In the vicinity of the epicenter near Rizal, the fault formed a branch with the main trace of the fault
propagating farther northwestward while the splay did not go beyond Rizal town proper. The termination of
the fault branch northwest of Rizal proper may likewise be attributed to the presence of a barrier. The nature
of the barrier, however, is uncertain, there being no obvious change in rupture strike. However, intersecting
and transverse faults along the trace of the rupture near the terraces at the branch terminus may have locally
increased resistance of the fault to rupture propagation thus constituting an inhomogeneous barrier
Additional evidence suggesting the presence of a barrier at the branch termination point is the high ground
acceleration (g) value of at least 1 g in this area where many boulders where thrown-out as far as 20 cm from
their former positions (Umeda et. al., 19?). Similarly thrown out boulders were also observed in Laur. Thus,
high frequency waves induced by strong ground motion (Sibson, 1987) are enhanced by irregular rupture
propagation with non-uniform slip due to the presence of a barrier (Aki, 1979).
From Rizal going northwestward, rupture propagation was relatively smooth. However, localized bends are
occasionally encountered accounting for the non-uniform slip along the trace ( Figures 15 & 16 ). Near
Cabalatan, Kayapa, the trace started to encounter significant bends until its terminus at Bisong, Kayapa
( Figure 17 ). The nature of the barrier at this particular point is quite unclear but it was apparently strong
enough to resist extension owing to the already weakened applied stress.
Later, increased stress concentration at the northwestern terminus probably caused a sequence of
aftershocks. In contrast, relatively few aftershocks occurred near the SE terminus of the rupture ( Figure 18 ).
When a stress increase of great magnitude occurs, various things may happen (Aki, 1979). Stress could be
concentrated near the stopping point and only partially released, thus accounting for the few aftershocks at
the southeastern terminus. As the rupture could propagate no further, stress release in the form of greater
vertical displacements thus occurred. In contrast, the spatial distribution of aftershocks at the northwestern
terminus indicates a clustering near the end of the rupture zone and migration away from it, gradually
extending the aftershock area. In this case, the stress concentration is relieved at least partially by brittle
fracture. Alternatively the SE barrier may be ductile, relaxing stress by non elastic deformation, resulting in
fewer aftershocks, while the NW barrier may be brittle and relieve stress by fracturing, producing numerous
aftershocks in the process.

IMPACTS
The earthquake left in its wake about 1,200 casualties and at least P 10 B of damages to buildings,
infrastructures, and properties. Part of this damage was due to ground rupturing, although no casualty was
reported as a result of this particular hazard. Areas heavily-impacted by the effects of ground rupturing, were
Rizal town proper and nearby towns of Laur, Bongabon, and Gabaldon to the southeast, and Digdig, Puncan
(Carranglan), in Nueva Ecija, and Imugan (Sta. Fe) in Nueva Vizcaya to the northwest. Danger within the
epicentral area were confined to a narrow zone 1-2 m on both sides of the rupture. Buildings and houses
regardless of make and design directly straddling the ground rupture were totally damaged ( Figure 19 ),
mainly due to large lateral shifting and vertical displacement. In many instances, however, a number of lightly-
constructed buildings within this zone surprisingly survived ( Figure 20 ). In comparison, buildings made up
of reinforced concrete within this 4-m zone suffered partial damage, underscoring the apparent flexibility of
lightweight materials that tend to sway with and not resist, ground shaking. Beyond 2 m from the ground
rupture but still within the epicentral area, damage to structures becomes minimal except for poorly-
constructed buildings and on account of the local ground conditions. In places, substantial vertical movement
along the ground rupture resulted to disruption of normal agricultural activities in the Rizal-Bongabon-Laur-
Carranglan areas (Nueva Ecija) as formerly irrigated rice paddies can no longer be irrigated as these are on
the upthrown side while those on the downthrown side cannot be planted to rice due to flooding ( Figure 21 ).
Localised large-scale flooding occurred in areas where the streams and water systems were cut-off, dammed
and at times, diverted by ground displacements ( Figure 22 ). Infrastructures such as roads
( Figures 23a and 23b ) and bridges ( Figures 24a and 24b ) along the ground rupture were also damaged as a
result of both horizontal and vertical ground shifting.
Other earthquake-related damages can be attributed to strong ground vibration and related landslides and
liquefaction. Vibration was widely felt in Luzon affecting areas more than a hundred kilometers away from the
epicenter with the intensity varying with local ground conditions. Landslides affected Nueva Ecija, Nueva
Vizcaya and Benguet. The effects of the landslides were more intense near the areas traversed by the ground
rupture, areas undercut by streams, road cuts, and in highly-steepened slopes specially where the rocks are
highly fractured and devoid of vegetation. Subsequent heavy rains carried down log-laden debris that
sometimes resulted in the damming of river courses. Subsequent breaching of these natural dams resulted in
widespread inundation of nearby settlements and agric ultural lands. Liquefaction and settling damaged
mostly the swampy areas in and near Dagupan, Agoo and Aringay (La Union). In Gerona and Pura, Tarlac,
liquefaction effects consist of subsidence, sand boiling and tilting of structures. Localised subsidence was also
observed, in Metro Manila, particularly in the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex along Manila Bay.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The ground rupture of 16 July 1990 Earthquake is not confined to a simple narrow and distinct line. Instead, a
complex fault pattern resulted where the main fault zone is complicated by branching and secondary faults of
lesser displacements. Secondary faults in the form of synthetic, antithetic and subparallel fractures are as far
as 300 meters from the main fault zone and branch faults may extend for a distance of 500 meters from the
bifurcation point. The narrow distinct fault trace is also often interrupted by en echelon traces and mole
tracks reflecting the type of local material (e.g., firm vs. soft foundation) and the localised effects of rupture
propagation. The ground rupture closely followed the pre-existing active fault trace, although minor
deviations in places were observed.
The amount of surface displacement along the fault rupture varies greatly reaching a maximum or a minimum
near one end of the fault and shows several high points of offset along the fault trace. Thus, displacement
values and sense of vertical displacement along the fault is characterised by unevenness or irregularity,
consistent with the location of barriers or asperities along the fault plane that prevent smooth rupture and
displacement propagation.
Asymmetry of the NW and SE rupture lengths, irregular rupture propagation, termination, slowing down and
jerky rupture propagation and high ground acceleration are controlled by rupture propagation barriers
interrupting the trace and fault plane.
Damage to buildings, infrastructures, and properties amounted to at least P 10 B. a small part of which was
caused directly by ground rupturing. Structures directly straddling the ground rupture were totally damaged
as a result of large lateral shifting and substantial vertical displacement. However, some houses within 1-2 m
on either side of the ground rupture survived owing to their light-weight construction while those built of
reinforced concrete within this zone suffered partial damage. Damages beyond 2m but still within the
epicentral zone was minimal depending on the structural integrity of the building and effects of local ground
conditions. These observations underscore the advantage of using lightweight materials for construction
purposes as well as the need to observe sound construction and design of buildings particularly in areas close
to the ground rupture and in places that may be affected by future movements along active faults.

RECOMMENDATIONS
As shown by the results of this study, the 16 July earthquake essentially followed the previously-mapped
active fault trace. The techniques and methodology used herein may thus be applied in the identification,
delineation, and future studies of other active faults in the Philippines.
More detailed mapping of the location and areal extent of the 16 July ground rupture should be undertaken,
especially where the latter transects or passes close to settlement areas. As far as practicable, it is likewise
proposed that efforts be exerted to mark the location of t the ground rupture at strategic points for easy
reference and shall serve as among the constraints in future land utilization planning and development in
these areas.
Based on the observations of damages with respect to distance from the ground rupture, it is herein proposed
that an easement of at least 5 m. on either side of the line of rupture be observed and strictly implemented for
purposes of zoning and future land utilization and development scheme in areas transected by the ground
rupture.
Existing codes and regulations governing the structural design and construction of buildings close to the
ground rupture be reviewed, rectified, and most importantly, strictly implemented.
Specific sites along the ground rupture may be identified, developed, and preserved as national geologic
monuments to instill awareness of earthquake-related hazards among the people and serve as concrete
reminder of the 1990 earthquake and its damaging effects in view of the fact that disasters such as the 16 July
1990 earthquake are easily forgotten.
Multi-sectoral effort should be undertaken to embark on a nation-wide information campaign on the nature
and hazards posed by earthquakes and their proper mitigation to educate the general public, policy planners,
and decision-makers considering that the Philippines is an earthquake-prone country.
Existing contingency measures designed to cope up with disasters should be reviewed and modified to
incorporate the various lessons learned from the effects of the 16 July earthquake.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to acknowledge the partial funding extended to this project by the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources through Secretary Fulgencio S. Factoran, Jr. without which this endeavor
would not have been possible. The help extended by the following PHIVOLCS personnel in the preparation of
some figures used in this paper are likewise acknowledged: Messrs. Eleuterio Diao and Reynaldo Macaspac,
and Ms. Shirley Inmenzo.

REFERENCES
Aki, K. 1979. Characterization of barriers on an earthquake fault, Journal of Geophysical Research,84,6140-
6148.
Beanland, S., Berryman Kelvin R., and G. H. Blick.1989. Geological investigations of the 1987 Edgecumbe
earthquake, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics,32, 73-90.
Bonilla, M. G. and Buchanan, J. M.,1970. Interim report on worldwide historic surface faulting. U.S. Geol.
Survey Open File Report.,32 p.
Besana, G. M., R. S. Punongbayan, J. A. Daligdig, J. V. Umbal, and B. C. Bautista. 1990. Preliminary analysis of the
16 July 1990 earthquake aftershock distribution in relation to ground rupture. 1990. Proceedings of the 3rd
Annual Geological Convention, December 5-7.
Crone, A. J., M. N. Machete, M. G. Bonilla, J. J. Lienkaemper, K. L. Pierce, W. E. Scott, and Robert C. Bucknam.
1987. Surface Faulting Accompanying the Borah Peak Earthquake and Segmentation of the Lost River Fault,
Central Idaho, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. 77: 739-770.
Das, S. and K. Aki .1977. Fault planes with barriers: A versatile model, Journal of Geophysical Research. 82:
5648-5670.
Nakata, T., H. Tsutsumi, R. S. Punongbayan, R. E. Rimando, J. A. Daligdig, G. M. Besana and A. S. Daag.1990.
Surface faulting associated with the Philippine earthquake of 1990. J. & eogr., 99 (5): 95-112.
Punongbayan, R. S., and J. V. Umbal. 1990. Overview and impacts of the July 16, 1990 earthquake. Proceedings
of the 3rd Annual Geological Convention, December 5-7, 1990.
Southeast Asia Association of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering, 1985. Edited by E.P. Arnold., Series on
Seismology, Vol. IV: Philippines, Washington D.C.: Government Printing Office.
Sibson, Richard S. 1986. Rupture interaction with fault jogs. In Earthquake source mechanics, edited by Das, S.,
J. Boatwright, and C. H. Scholz. American Geophysical Union Monograph 37, p.157-167.
_________.1987. Effects of fault heterogeneity on rupture propagation. In The behaviour of seismogenic faults,
Edited by A. J. Crone, and Omdahl, E. M. Directions in Paleoseismology Conference, XXXIXth Proceedings,
p.362373.
Ziony, J. I. and R. F. Yerkes. 1985. Evaluating Earthquake and Surface Faulting Potential Evaluating Earthquake
Hazards in the Los Angeles Region - An Earth Science Perspective (U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper
1360). Washington United States Government Printing Office. pp. 43-89.

Inventory and Characterization of Landslides induced by the 16 July 1990 Luzon Earthquake

Mapping of Areas Affected by Liquefaction during the 16 July 1990 Earthquake

The 16 July 1990 Luzon Earthquake and its Aftershock Activity

Soil Study of Area Damage due to Liquefaction during the 16 July 1990 Philippine Earthquake

Vital Engineering Lessons from the Earthquake of July 16, 1990

Quantifying Spatial and Temporal Dimensions of Premonitory Animal Behavior of the July 16, 1990
Luzon Earthquake

Households and Communities in a Post-Earthquake Situation: Lessons on Survival and Self-Reliance

Organizational Response to the July 1990 Luzon Earthquake Disaster

Psychosocial Issues in Disasters

Management Strategies for Earthquake-Related Psychosocial Problems Community-Based

Interventions

Some Implications of the July 16, 1990 Earthquake on Urban and Regional Planning in the
Philippines

Panay Earthquake (1990 Ms. 7.1)

1990 June 14 Ms7.1 Panay Earthquake

On 14 June 1990, an earthquake measuring 7.1 in the Richter Scale hit Panay Island at 3:41 P.M., killing 8 and
injuring 41 people. The epicenter was located at 11.34°North latitude; 122.10° East longitude, in the vicinity
of Culasi, Antique. The depth was computed to be 15 kilometers. It was generated by fault movement in the
collisional zone off western Panay Island.

The tremor was felt in the following places (in PEIScale):

Intensity VII Culasi, Antique; Libacao, Aklan
Intensity VI Balete, Kalibo, Madalag, Numancia, Altavas & Makato in Aklan; Sigma & Cuartero in Capiz,
and; Calinog in Iloilo.
Intensity V Northern part of Negros Island
Intensity IV Romblon and the rest of Negros Island
Intensity III Cebu City; Taal; Mayon; Palo, Leyte
Intensity II Cagayan de Oro & Camiguin Island
A quick response team dispatched to the area reported the following observations:

Culasi, Antique
 Seven persons perished and 31 others suffered mild to severe injuries.
 About 15% of the residential houses collapsed, the rest were partially damaged.
 Several commercial buildings, namely: San Miguel Beer and Coca-cola warehouse; half portion of the
Rural Bank of Culasi building; the Esperanza Elementary School, and the Seventh-Day Adventist church
collapsed.
 Four bridges totally collapsed.
 Fissures measuring 82.5 x 0.8 x 0.91meters, and 4 x 0.8 x 0.9meters were noted in two barangays.
 Upliftment occurred in Barangay Bagacay of 0.6 meters with an approximate area of 3,000 square
meters.
 Landslides were noted along the slope of Mt. Madya-as. The volume of materials carried by the
landslide was approximately 30,000 cubic meters in Bagacay.
 Fifty-seven families (about 342 persons) were evacuated.

Libacao, Aklan
 Five concrete residential buildings were totally damaged, while thirty structures were partially
damaged.
 Two churches and a river control project were heavily damaged.
 Five highway bridges were partially damaged.

Balete, Aklan
 The Baptist church and the public market were heavily damaged, while an icon was toppled down.
 The Rural Health Center and a rice mill collapsed.
 The Balete district hospital was badly damaged and was declared dangerous for future use.
 Partial damage to another public market and on the approach of some bridges.
 One residential house totally collapsed and ten others were partially damaged.
 Thirty-five people were evacuated to the Catholic Church.
 A fissure measuring 2 km long and 136 cm wide, trending N50W was noted along Jaro River.

Madalag, Aklan
 The municipal and district hospital sustained some cracks.

Kalibo, Aklan
 Aklan Science High School and Alan Cinema were partially damaged.
 The Catholic Church of Kalibo that is made of bricks suffered cracks on its walls.
 A house made of ceramics was partially damaged.

Numancia, Aklan
 Sandboil was observed.

Altavas, Aklan
 The wharf was partially damaged.
 There were cracks on the walls of the Cathedral and the head of an icon was damaged.

Makato, Aklan
 The sports complex was partially damaged.
 The posts and beams of the public market were damaged.

Kalinog, Iloilo
 Various buildings of the Philippine Constabulary Regional Command were damaged.
 The Catholic Church was partially damaged.

Cuartero, Capiz
 A church and several houses were partially damaged.

Sigma, Capiz
 A bridge and a communication tower were partially damaged.
Estimated total amount of damage is about 30 million pesos.

References:
1. PHIVOLCS Observer. . . . . .July 1990 ISSN 01-16-07-45
2. PHIVOLCS Observer. . . . . .January-March 1990

Acknowledgement:
The Quick Response Team (QRT) Members: Jimmy Sincioco - Team Leader; Ariel Rasdas; Rod Medrano; Jerry
Diolata; Dindo Javier; Nelson Mondia
Pictures used were taken by Mr. Dindo Javier, and through the kindness of Ms. Louie de Guzman of the TID.
Pictures
Focal Mechanism
 Strk1 225
Dip1 75
Rake1 -172
Strk2 133
Dip2 83
Rake2 -15

P-axis Plunge 16
Azimuth 88
T-axis Plunge 5
Azimuth 179

Isoseismal map

Intensity VII Culasi, Antique; Libacao, Aklan

Intensity VI Balete, Kalibo, Madalag, Numancia, Altavas & Makato in Aklan; Sigma & Cuartero in Capiz,
and; Calinog in Iloilo.
Intensity V Northern part of Negros Island
Intensity IV Romblon and the rest of Negros Island
Intensity III Cebu City; Taal; Mayon; Palo, Leyte
Intensity II Cagayan de Oro & Camiguin Island

Laoag Earthquake (1983 Ms 6.5)

1983 August 17 Ms6.5 Laoag Earthquake

At 8:18 P.M. of 17 August 1983, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 (Ml) on the Richter Scale and an
intensity of VII on the Rossi-Forel Scale hit the province of Ilocos Norte. The tremor was perceptible over a
distance of 400 kilometers from the epicenter. This was the most sever earthquake in North-western Luzon in
52 years and probably the second largest earthquake event to hit Laoag city and it's immediate vicinity in
historical times. This earthquake has caused death of 16 people and injuries of forty seven persons (PDE).

Date of Event August 17, 1983

Origin Time 8:17 pm (12:17 GMT)
Epicenter 18.231 N Latitude 120.860 E Longitude or approximately 30 aerial kilometers east-northeast of
Laoag City.
Magnitude 6.5 Ms ( 5.3 Ml on the Richter Scale)
Depth approximately 42 km from the surface.

Intensity Report:
Intensity VII Laoag City, Pasuquin- Ilocos Norte
Intensity VI Vigan-Ilocos Norte
Intensity V Aparri-Cagayan, Santa-locos Sur
Intensity IV Tuguegarao-Cagayan, Baguio City
Intensity III Dagupan City, Callao-Cagayan, Manila
Note: Intensity scale used in these observation was the Rossi-Forel Earthquake Intensity Scale.

Historical Background:
Since 1862 upto 1981, (excepting the years 1941 to 1949) fifty-six earthquakes have affected Laoag City. Of
these, the strongest was recorded on 19 March, 1931. This earthquake reportedly had an intensity of VII - IX.
Prior to the 17 August earthquake, two tremors were recorded on the eleventh and the thirteenth of August
1983. These were believed to be foreshocks of the intensity VII earthquake (Macalincag, T. G., personal
communication). The first had an intensity of V and the succeeding one an intensity of II in the Rossi-Forrel
Scale.

Summary of Damages:
Damages on buildings:
A number of reinforced concrete buildings either totally crumbled or sustained major structural damage
beyond rehabilitation. The failure in most of the damaged buildings can be attributed to shear and
compressional waves, thereby producing horizontal and vertical stresses. The most heavily damaged
structures in Laoag City are those situated near the Laoag River flood plain and along reclaimed stream
channels. These buildings were condemned by the City Engineer's Office. Nearly all the damaged buildings in
the area were of reinforced concrete frame. Most of the external walls and internal partitions were of concrete
hollow blocks. There are however, some buildings with wood partitions.
List of buildings that totally collapsed, suffered severe structural damage, sustained considerable damage or
considerable non-structural damage:

Laoag City The Laoag Cathedral

Sinking Bell Tower
Yabes Juan Department Store Building
Denson Building
Golden Hardware Building
Laeno Building
Avenue Lumber and Hardware
Philippine Veterans Bank Building
Teresita Building
Philippine National Bank Building
Shirley Building
Far East Building
Sunrise Building
Isabel Building
SE Asia building
Julian Building
Pichay's Building
Castro Building
Mique Residence
Gerardo Building
E. Ang Residence
San Nicolas Kaunlaran Building
San Nicolas Church and Bell Tower
Bacarra Bacarra Church and Bell Tower
Sarrat Sta. Monica Church and Bell Tower
Sarrat Municipal Hall
Marcos Guesthouse
Vintar Vintar Church
San Nicolas Academy
Vintar Municipal Hall
Burgos Bojeador Lighthouse

Minor Effects:
Landslides: Several earthquake induced landslides were observed in places where the slopes along road cuts
were steep to very steep. This condition had been aggravated by prolonged rainy days, absence of vegetation
to hold the soil, moderately weathered and indurated rocks. Areas affected by landslides were the Sarong
Valley in Vintar and Patapat Mountains in Pagudpud, both in Ilocos Norte.
Sandboils or Sandblows: Several sandboils were reportedly observed in Barangay Zamboanga, Laoag City;
Barangay Puyupuyan, Pasuquin; and Barangay Calayab, Paoay. The diameter of their craters vary from a few
centimeters to 2.5 meters. Sandblows or sandboils are the spouting of hydrated sand caused by moderate to
severe earthquakes. This connate water that has been entrapped in the interstices of sediments at the time of
deposition may have come from either South China Sea or Laoag River.
Differential Settlement: Majority of the bridges in Ilocos Norte had experienced differtial settlement of
approach and or abutments. Some of the buildings were also observed to have differential settlement in
addition to being out of plumb. Step fractures due to collapse of foundation were observed at Marcos
Guesthouse in Sarrat. Magnitude of differential settlement measured range from a few centimeters to
approximately 30 centimeters.
Shear Fractures: A tilted road pavement along J. P. Rizal Street, Laoag City was observed after the main tremor.
Gaping tension fractures along Vintar-Bacarra Road and along asphalt pavement on the southern approach of
Bacarra Bridge were also observed. Gaping Step tension fracture along Vintar Poblacion-Tamdagan road was
found. Numerous irregular cracks and small fissures were discovered along seashores, river banks and alluvial
fans.

References:
Santiago, N.G and Rillon, E.A ( December 1983): Assessment on the effects of the August 17, 1983 Earthquake
in Laoag City: Bureau of Mines and Geo-sciences.
Valenzuela, R.G. and Garcia, L.C. (10 October 1983) Laoag Earthquake of 17 August 1983 SummaryReport:
PAGASA.
Focal Mechanism

Strk1 149
Dip1 35
Rake1 -146
Strk2 30
Dip 2 71
Rake2 -60

P-axis Plunge 54
Azimuth 337
T-axis Plunge 21
Azimuth 98

Isoseismal Map

Intensity VII Laoag City, Pasuquin- Ilocos Norte

Intensity VI Vigan-Ilocos Norte
Intensity V Aparri-Cagayan, Santa-locos Sur
Intensity IV Tuguegarao-Cagayan, Baguio City
Intensity III Dagupan City, Callao-Cagayan, Manila
Casiguran Earthquake (1968 Ms 6.3)

1968 August 02 Ms7.3 Casiguran Earthquake

At 4:19 AM (local time) on August 02, 1968 an earthquake with an intensity of VIII in the Rossi-Forel Intensity
Scale rocked the town of Casiguran, Aurora. This was considered the most severe and destructive earthquake
experienced in the Philippines during the last 20 years. Two hundred seventy (270) persons were killed and
261 were injured as a result of the earthquake. A six-storey building in Binondo, (Ruby Tower) Manila
collapsed instantly during the quake while several major buildings near Binondo and Escolta area in Manila
sustained varying levels of structural damages. The cost of property damage was several million dollars.
Extensive landslides and large fissures were observed in the mountainous part of the epicentral area. Tsunami
was also observed and recorded as far as observation in tide gauge station in Japan.

Date of Event August 02, 1968

Origin Time 4:19 am (20:19 GMT)
Epicenter 16.3 N Latitude 122.11 E Longitude or approximately
Magnitude Ms: 7.3 Mb: 5.9 (ISC)
Depth approximately 31 km from the surface.

Intensity Report:
Intensity VIII Casiguran, Quezon
Intensity VII Manila and Palanan
Intensity VI Baler, Quezon City, Tuguegarao, Aparri, Baguio, Dagupan, Iba, Cabanatuan, Alabat,
Intensity V Tarlac, Ambulong, Infanta, Jomalig
Intensity IV Legaspi, Lucena, Calapan, Aurora, Laoag, Catarman, Virac
Intensity III Romblon, Vigan

Note: Intensity scale used in these observations was the Adapted Rossi-Forel Earthquake Intensity Scale of I-
IX.

Casualties:
Place No. of persons killed Plunge (degrees)

Manila (Ruby Tower) 268 260

Manila (Sta. Ana Tenement House) - 1

Aurora Sub Province 1 -

Guagua, Pampanga 1 -

Total 270 261

Summary of Damages:
Damage to Particular Buildings in Manila
The severe damage area was concentrated in a relatively small part of Greater Manila. This part of Manila lies
in the mouth of Pasig River (a major river system in Metro Manila) and includes the deepest and most recent
alluvial deposits in the city.

Ruby Tower
The Ruby Tower was a large six-storey building containing 38 commercial units in its first two floors and 76
residential units in its upper four floors. Most of the building collapsed except for a part of the northern end of
first and second floors (Photo 1 & 2), killing 268 persons and injuring 260 of the occupants. The upper floors
fell southwards while the southern end of the roof moved about 30 feet or 9.15 meters south and 10 feet
or3.05 meters east (Photo 3). The lower floors appeared to fall close to their plan position (Photo 4).

Philippine Bar Association Building

The Philippine bar Association (PBA) was a medium rise six-storey commercial building with offices and club
rooms (Photo 5). Most of the first storey columns suffered total collapsed or very severe damage and
shortening (Photo 6, 7, 8 & 9). The intensity of damage increased towards the southeast end of the building.
Exterior columns suffered greater damage and shortening the nearby interior columns. This resulted in very a
severe deformation of some interior beams and part of the floor at each storey level.

Aloha Theater
The Aloha Theater is a large eight-storey building that suffered severe damage near its southern end. The
damage was initiated by the collapsed of a few very short columns towards the southern end of the fourth
floor. It spread out and severely damaging the southern end of the building (Photo 10 & 11).

Tuason Building
Tuason Building is a medium sized six-storey building which suffered severe damage or very close to collapse
(Photo 12 & 13). The columns along the southern side wrecked or severely damage (Photo 14).

Other buildings that suffered considerable structural and nNon-structural damage (Manila)

Trinity Building (Photo 15 & 16)

Diamond Tower (Photo 17 & 18)
Liwayway Hotel (Photo 19 & 20)
National Library (Photo 21)
Old Philippine National Bank
Boie Building
Araneta and Tuason Building (Photo 22)
Development Bank of the Philippines
Phoenix Building
La Tondeña Building
New Philippine National Bank (Photo 23)
Overseas Terminal (Photo 24)
Far Eastern University Arts and Sciences Building

Landslides
Landslides occurred in several places on the steep slopes of surrounding mountains near the epicentral area.
Landslides produced by the main shock were mostly on the slopes of mountains north of the town of
Casiguran, while those that accompanied the big aftershocks were observed on mountains both to the north
and to the west. The largest landslide took place on the cliff at Dinajawan Point facing Casiguran Bay (Photo
25) while another landslide was observed in Manglad River, a tributary of Cagayan River (Photo 26). Manglad
River traverses behind a cornfield and beside this, the transported unconsolidated sediments produced a
small hill (Photo 27).

Ground Ruptures
In the epicentral area, around the town of Casiguran, cracks that were parallel to the nearest rivers were
observed. Surface soil in this part is mostly loose deltaic sand. The length of the fissures varies from 10 to 20
meters but in some areas, it reached a length of 400 to 500 meters. The space between the cracks varies from
5 to 20 meters Fissures on the road from Casiguran to Barrio Tabas produced a 0.5 meters crack and the
surface subsidence varied to as much as two meters (Photo 28). This road is approximately 8 meters from the
Casiguran River at the top of a steep bank approximately 2.5 meters high. Photo 29, shows another fissure on
a logging road, 30 meters away from and parallel to river bank in Casiguran area.

References:
Osome, S., Osawa, Y., Skinner, I., Yoshima, and Y., PHILIPPINES: Luzon Earthquake of August 02, 1968, UNESCO,
Serial No. 977/BMS. RD/SCE. NR, Paris, January 1969.
Southeast Asia Association of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering (SEASEE). Series in Seismology,
Volume IV (Philippines), 1985
Focal Mechanism:

Trend(degrees) Plunge (degrees)

Pole of 1st Nodal Plane 137.5 64.18

Pole of 2nd Nodal Plane 261.5 15.14

Axis of Compression (P) 98.13 26.86

Axis of Tension (T) 234.92 55.2

Null Axis (B) 357.27 20.4

Intensity VIII Casiguran, Aurora
Intensity VII Manila and Palanan-Isabela
Intensity VI Baler, Quezon City, Tuguegarao and Cagayan, Aparri, Baguio City, Dagupan City, Iba-
Zambales, Cabanatuan City, Alabat-Quezon
Intensity V Tarlac, Ambulong, Infanta-Quezon, Jomalig
Intensity IV Legaspi City, Lucena City, Calapan-Oriental Mindoro, Aurora, Laoag City, Catarman Samar,
Virac Catanduanes
Intensity III Romblon, Vigan

Moro Gulf Earthquake (1976 Ms 7.9)

1976 August 17 Ms7.9 Moro Gulf Earthquake

A few minutes after the last stroke of midnight on August 17, 1976, a violent earthquake occurred in the
island of Mindanao spawning a tsunami that devastated more than 700 kms of coastline bordering Moro Gulf
in the North Celebes Sea. This offshore event generated by Cotabato trench, a less prominent trench system in
the Philippines, was the largest tsunamigenic earthquake to have occurred in Mindanao in the last two
decades. It was an earthquake that resulted in massive destruction of properties and great loss of lives. The
tsunami generated contributed immensely to the devastation. The cities and provinces of Cotabato took the
brunt of the earthquake while the tsunami generated cast its doom on the provinces bordering Moro Gulf
especially on the shores of Pagadian City. According to surveys during the event, the tsunami was responsible
for 85% of deaths, 65% of injuries and 95% of those missing. After the sea spent its fury and rolled back to its
natural flow, thousands of people were left dead, others homeless or missing and millions of pesos lost with
the damages of properties. Properties lost not only include establishments for residential and commercial use,
but also bancas that, as a whole, represents the livelihood of hundreds of families.
Date of Event 17 August 1976
Time 12:11 A.M. (Local)
Epicenter 06.3° N, 124.0° E
Magnitude 7.9

FORESHOCKS
Analysis of seismic records for August 1976 prior to August 17 of the same year showed that there were six
events recorded that had epicenters in the same area as the main shock and could be considered as
foreshocks of the Moro Gulf earthquake. Also, about a month before that, two quakes were reportedly felt in
Zamboanga City that also had epicenters near the area of the main shock. These two events were not recorded
at the PAGASA Observatory in Quezon City nor in any of its field stations. This brings to eight the total number
of foreshocks, three of which are felt events with intensities ranging from I to IV. (Stratta et.al., 1977)

AFTERSHOCKS
There were approximately forty (40) aftershocks that were plotted using available data from the seismic
network of PAGASA. But it was reported that more aftershocks were felt and recorded locally most of which
were felt in the area with Rossi-Forel intensities of up to Intensity VI. Aftershocks in Cotabato City were
monitored by the Commission on Volcanology (now Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology) and
during the span of time that the aftershocks were monitored, an average of about 140 aftershocks per day
were recorded. Monitoring started on the 18th of August 1976 using a three component Hosaka seismograph
and a single-component Kinemetrics seismometer.

COTABATO CITY
DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS
SCHOOLS

COTABATO CHINESE SCHOOL GYMNASIUM

A reinforced concrete and wood structure built in 1962. Its walls fell outward during the earthquake and the
roof fell in.

ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
This is a two-story building (designed for three stories) with reinforced concrete frame built in late 1973. The
building suffered little damage on some of its walls. A pile foundation had been used.

HARVADIAN COLLEGE
The campus includes several buildings but only a partially collapsed five-story structure was investigated. The
building was built in 1962. It had reinforced concrete frame with reinforced concrete slabs at the second level
and at the exterior walkways at the third, fourth and fifth levels. The fifth story was constructed completely of
wood and the roof had GI sheeting. The building was reportedly designed for three stories with the fourth and
fifth floor added later with no strengthening of the lower stories.

NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY

This University is located on Notre Dame Avenue approximately 1.5 km southeast of the downtown area. The
site has wet and soft marshy ground. Ground water appeared to be very near the surface as ponds were
evident throughout the site.

THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

A rectangular three-story structure with reinforced concrete columns and girders and concrete floors built in
1960s. Damage to the building was light. There was a 3 m concrete panel at the entrance that was heavily
cracked and damage to the frame was minor.
THE AUDITORIUM AND SCIENCE BUILDING
This is a 48 x 30 m auditorium crossed at its entrance by a three-story 51 x 12 m science wing. It had
reinforced concrete frame with masonry infills built in 1969. The roofs of the auditorium and science wing
had the same elevation. After the earthquake, a fire broke out in the science wing. Its first and second story
columns sustained heavy damage. The long span beams also have heavy cracks. After the fire had burned for
several hours, the science wing collapsed. The auditorium suffered heavy fire damage. The roof trusses in the
stage area sagged heavily due to the intense heat. Large areas of the trusses dropped simultaneously. The
infilled walls did not suffer structural damage but the entrance of the auditorium was destroyed when the
science wing collapsed.

THE NEW RESIDENCE HALL

This is a rectangular, three-story structure nearing completion and unoccupied at the time of the earthquake.
It consists of concrete exterior columns, thin concrete exterior walls, timber interior columns and floor
systems, and plywood interior partitions. Damage to the building was light. There were cracks at the floor
line, some columns were damaged at the sill line, interior partitions were torn apart, some ceiling panels fell
and considerable cracks of the ground floor slab.

THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL

A two-story building built in 1965. It had a concrete frame with a concrete two-way slab floor. This building
was linked to an adjacent building by a common wood canopy. Damage to the structure was moderate. The
first story columns and fins were damaged at the head and sill levels and the canopy collapsed at its end bay.

HOTELS and RESTAURANTS

DAWNS HOTEL
A six-story reinforced concrete frame and wall building. There was no damage except for a little working on
the floor joints of the south wall of the building.

D’MAX RESTAURANT
A two-story building constructed in 1968. It was a combination of reinforced concrete and wood. The building
collapsed completely. (Go to Amicus Building for additional information.)

IMPERIAL HOTEL #1
Imperial Hotel #1, Imperial Hotel #2 and Rita Theatre are situated close together. Imperial Hotel #1 and Rita
Theatre drifted to the west and pushed against Imperial Hotel #2. Imperial Hotel #1 is a four-story reinforced
concrete building with masonry infills built in 1963. The building experienced a 38 cm permanent offset in
the first story and the rear portion of the building collapsed.

IMPERIAL HOTEL #2
This is a six-story building with reinforced concrete frame built in 1967. There was superficial damage to the
building that consisted of cracks in a column, its infill panels and part of the slab grade caused by the impact
force from the fronts of Rita Theater and Imperial Hotel #1. The impact also caused shear failure of the second
story column.

MELBOURNE HOTEL
A three-story building with reinforced concrete frame with masonry infilled panels built in 1970. The first
story suffered a permanent offset to the south after the quake and its columns sustained heavy damage. On
the east side of the building, the panels were pushed out and window infills in its mezzanine floor buckled
outward.

NEW SOCIETY HOTEL

A four-story reinforced concrete frame building with shear walls and reinforced concrete slabs for its floors
and roof. It was built in 1968. It is located within 30 m of Rio Grande and its elevation is 2 m below street
level. The columns were founded on woodpiles with reinforced concrete pile caps. The pile cap and water
table were nearly coincidental. Proximity of the river and the high water table would suggest a very strong
ground shaking but there had been factors that ruled out this possibility and instead, flaws in the structure
were considered as the principal causes of failure. The building collapsed as the building twisted in a
counterclockwise motion; the northwest corner of the second floor dropped down to the street; and the
opposite southeast corner suffered torsional failure of the corner pilaster and out-of-plane shearing of the
adjacent walls. The frame and walls above the first story was practically undamaged.

SAGUITTARIUS HOTEL
A four-story structure with reinforced concrete frame built in 1965. The building collapsed completely. (Go to
Amicus Building for additional information.)

SULTAN HOTEL
A five-story building that suffered collapse of the first floor. The collapse of the building must have been slow
because the portion above the second floor remained intact.

THEATERS

COTABATO CINEMA
This is a large structure to the rear of Sultan Hotel. When the hotel collapsed, it caused severe structural
damage to the theater complex. It was hard to determine whether the collapse of the hotel caused failure to
the theater or merely contributed to an already damaged structure.

FRANCEL THEATER
A reinforced concrete and wood building built in 1966. The reinforced concrete portion of the building
collapsed causing failure of the wood trusses of the roof.

RITA THEATRE
This was a two-story 12 m tall reinforced concrete frame building in front. Its rear portion was a combined
reinforced concrete frame with masonry infills and wood and serves as the auditorium. The auditorium roof
has two elevations. The front frame drifted to the west along with Imperial Hotel #1. The auditorium frame
and its infilled east wall were knocked over by Imperial Hotel #1 and the roof on this part of the structure
collapsed. Further to the rear, the roof did not collapsed because the roof elevation was lower. (Go to Imperial
Hotel #1 for additional information.)

CHURCHES

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH

This church was located across the street from Tison Building. Its grounds were very soft and the church was
obviously not built on piles. The church tower settled by about 15 cm.
TAMONTAKA CATHOLIC CHURCH
A structure made of unreinforced brick walls with interior timber columns and wooden roof said to have been
built by the Spaniards around 1872. It was built on soft marshy soil. Before the earthquake, the building
already had some structural cracks that could be either due to a previous earthquake or a differential
settlement. The church suffered severe damage.

OTHERS

AMICUS BUILDING
The Amicus Building, Sagittarius Hotel and D'Max Restaurant formed a complex of three adjacent buildigs that
collapsed.

BOSTON BAKERY
A two-story reinforced concrete building built in 1965. The first story of the build drifted about 60 cm to the
west.

COTABATO AUTO SUPPLY

A three-story building built in 1968 with reinforced concrete frame, concrete floor and masonry infilled
exterior walls. Its partitions were made of timber and plywood. The first two floors were used for auto parts
sales and storage and the third floor served as the owner's living quarters.
The first story collapsed gradually, according to the proprietor, with the upper stories coming to rest
approximately 3 m west of its original location. The rest of the building only sustained minor cracks. Storage
shelves in the second floor were still standing after the quake.
A one-story concrete lean-to behind this building also collapsed.

COTABATO FIRE and POLICE STATION

The building settled out of plumb toward the river during the earthquake. Otherwise, there was no structural
failure noted on the building itself.

FIRST GIFT AND BOOKSTORE

A four-story building built around 1968 to 69 with reinforced concrete frame resting on a timber pile
foundation. This was also known as the Yap building after its owner.
The first floor of this building collapsed during the initial earthquake tremor and fire broke out within the
structure. Five to six hours later, the structure collapsed completely. It was noted that this structure leaned
into an adjacent three-story building knocking it into a third building, the City Evangelical Church. Damage to
the church was light.

LCT HARDWARE AND AUTO SUPPLY

A two-story reinforced concrete structure with wood trusses and GI sheet roof. The first story collapsed
toward the west during the earthquake.

MELINEEN BUILDING
A two-story reinforced concrete building that pancaked.
SOUTH SEAS TRADING
This was a three-story building built in 1967. It had a concrete frame and floor slab. This building completely
collapsed.

TAN BO BUILDING
A four-story building constructed around 1971. Its frame was of reinforced concrete while the walls are
infilled hollow blocks. The whole structure was built on timber piles. The only damage noted was the cracks
on the walls near the stairs.

TISON BUILDING
This was the only building in Cotabato City known to have been designed with seismic considerations. It was
built on precast concrete friction piles on good soil. It survived the earthquake with only a slight crack in a
concrete block partition.

WATERFRONT WAREHOUSES
A large number of warehouses were located at the edge of Rio Grande west of Manday River. They look like
they were made of masonry walls, timber trusses, and corrugated GI sheets. They were poorly built. All of the
warehouses collapsed.

DAMAGE TO BRIDGES

QUIRINO BRIDGE
This is a four-span structural steel bridge over the Rio Grande. Each span is 40 m long. The second span from
the south end collapsed into the river during the earthquake. The third span from the south end nearly
collapsed and cracks appeared several centimeters below the base of the south abutment.

TAMONTAKA BRIDGE
This bridge spans about 230 m across Tamontaka River approximately 6 kms south-southwest of Cotabato
City. The bridge is made up of six spans resting on pile-supported piers. The girders, piers and piles are made
of reinforced concrete. The bridge was constructed in three sections. After the earthquake, the center section
moved east and west in excess of 38 cm each way evidenced by the broken concrete keepers on each end of
the supporting piers. The northern section moved even greater distances. The southern section moved but
with lesser distance. There was damage to the railings at the abutments and the expansion joints.

ZAMBOANGA CITY
Fourteen buildings in this City of Flowers were partially damaged while twenty-six buildings sustained minor
damage. The City Hall bore noticeable cracks along its façade. Ateneo de Zamboanga sustained failures at the
sill level of its columns on the fourth floor due probably to poor concreting and column weakening because of
water seepage from the GI downpipes embedded in the columns. Zamboanga Agricultural and Engineering
College sustained damage to columns due to failure at end moments.
Zamboanga City was spared from the onslaught of the tsunami on account of the strategic geographic location
of Basilan and Santa Cruz Islands that served as buffers and deflected the waves that otherwise could have
inflicted heavy damage along Zamboanga City's coastline. Damage in buildings consisted mostly of cracks on
its masonry walls and insufficient lateral ties in some columns.

PAGADIAN CITY
The coastal districts of Santa Lucia, Santiago, San Pablo, San Roque and White Beach Barangay were hardest
hit by the tsunami. Almost all of the houses along the coast within 500 meters inland were destroyed. Some
houses made of reinforced concrete hollow blocks were able to withstand the force of the waves and also
served as protection to other house made of light materials. The approach to the Pagadian City wharf settled
down, causing cracks in the slabs of the approach area and in the concrete deck. The five-story reinforced
concrete building of Saint Columban College had noticeable cracks in the masonry infilled walls. Shear cracks
in two columns were observed at the junction.

DAMAGE DUE TO TSUNAMI

Just after the earthquake stopped, the sea, stirred by the powerful movement of the earthquake, swelled and
moved away from the coastline for about three kilometers. About ten minutes later, it roared back to the shore
and beyond in three succeeding waves soaring as high as the treetops according to some reports. The sea
unloaded its fury on everything near the shore. Houses and properties along the coastal beaches of Lanao del
Sur and Pagadian were practically washed out. Bits of houses littered the sea and bodies littered the shore.
The casualties and victims of the earthquake and tsunami numbered thousands just in Regions 9 and 12.
(Region 9 covers Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga City, Basilan, and Sulu while Region 12 covers
the areas of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Cotabato City, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.) A tabulation of
the victims and casualties in these regions is as follows.

Area Dead Missing Injured Homeless*

Region 9 1,440 909 7,701 49,848

Region 12 3,351 1,379 2,227 43,534

Source: Badillo, V.L. and Astilla, Z.C.: Moro Gulf Tsunami of August 17 1976
*Some of the data in this section was estimated at 6 members per family

The major cause of the great number of casualties during the event could be attributed to the fact that (1) the
tremor happened just after midnight when most people were sleeping; (2) a great tsunami was spawned,
struck the coasts from different directions and caught the people unaware.

REFERENCES:
Stratta, James L., et. al.; 1977, EERI Reconnaissance Report Mindanao, Philippines Earthquake August 17,
1976, 106 pp.
Badillo, Victor L. and Astilla, Zinnia C.; 1978, Moro Gulf Tsunami of 17 August 1976, 41 pp.
Stewart, Gordon S. and Cohn, Stephen N.; 1978, The 1976 August 16, Mindanao, Philippine
Earthquake (Ms = 7.8) -- evidence for a subduction zone south of Mindanao, 14 pp. Acharya, H.K., 1978,
Mindanao Earthquake of August 16, 1976: Preliminary Seismological Assessment : Bulletin of the
Seismological Society of America Vol. 68, 1459-1468.
Southeast Asia Association of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering, 1985, Series on Seismology Volume IV
Philippines, 489-515.
Intensity VII Cotabato City; Jolo-Sulu; Zamboanga City
Intensity VI Basilan City; Pagadian City; Dipolog City; Malaybalay-Bukidnon
Intensity V Cagayan de Oro City; Davao City; General Santos City
Intensity IV Dumaguete City; Hinatuan Surigao del Sur; Tagbilaran-Bohol; Cebu City; Surigao-
Surigao del Norte
Intensity II Roxas City; Iloilo City; Tacloban City; Legaspi City; Palo-Leyte; Catbalogan-Samar

Summary of PAGASA field reports on main shock ground motion

Ragay Gulf Earthquake (1973 Ms 7.0)

1973 March 17 Ms7.0 Ragay Gulf Earthquake

Date of Event: March 17, 1973

Epicenter: 13.41N ; 122.87E
Ms = 7.0
Focal Mechanism: Strike Slip

Summary of Damages:
Buildings and Other Civil Structures
The town worst hit by the earthquake is Calauag, Quezon where 98 houses were totally destroyed and 270
others were partially destroyed. In barrio Sumulong of the same town, 70% of the school buildings were
damaged. Most of the partially to completely destroyed houses and buildings were situated along the seashore
in the northern section of the town proper. The damaged houses were largely wooden and some were poorly
built concrete buildings.
The town of Lopez ranks next to Calauag with respect to the extent of destruction. The place is relatively
farther from the causative fault and the epicenter of the mainshock, but soft underlying sediments present in
Calauag are similarly found in Lopez.
The concrete hollow block retaining walls of a 5-room PTA building of Lopez Provincial School collapsed on
both sides of the building along the N-S direction. A residential 3-story concrete building was severely tilted to
the north.
The facade of the Sto. Rosario Catholic Church of Lopez suffered cracks and some parts of the CHB walls on
both sides toppled down.
The 1 km. long concrete seawall along the ESE coast of Calauag suffered minor cracks mostly along
construction joints. About its mid-section in one of its stairways there was a 10 cms. crack. One section was
displaced 5 cms to the north from the other section.
In Barrio Hondagua, Lopez 5 km east of Calauag, some buildings were totally or partially damaged. The CHB
wall of one of the classrooms of Hondagua Elementary School toppled down.
The Hondagua Theater which had been converted into a restaurant completely collapsed and the Catholic
chapel of the Barrio was partially destroyed. The concrete columns of the housings of the coveyor machines of
the Philippine Flour Mills in Hondagua buckled down. There was differential settlement of the ground along
fills in the pier such that floorings of some of the buildings became uneven and were cracked.

Transportation / Communication Lines and Underground Pipes

The earthquake wrought damages to roads, railroads and bridges. This hampered travel to and from Bicol
Region. At least four highway bridges on the Manila South Road were reported to have suffered damages
ranging from a partial to total collapse. The bridge which totally collapsed was the Sumulong highway bridge
in Sumulong, Calauag.
A PNR bridge crossing the Calauag River and situated about 600 meters north of the highway bridge was
badly damaged although it did not collapse. The rails along the bridge were badly twisted.
A slight movement was detected at the PNR bridge in Morato Tagkawayan. Its ties were observed to have
moved to 8 cms. to the east, and base plate of its western abutment was moved 5 cms. to south.
Damages to national and municipal roads were limited to cracking of the concrete slabs along the Manila
South Road. Subsidence occurred along the Sumulong-Guinayangan road. Minor cracks were observed along
the national highway from Km 217, up to Km 234 in Calauag.
Betweeen the town of Lopez and Calauag the rails of the PNR were reported to have been badly twisted. The
major twisting of the raiways however occurred some 300 meters from the southwestern approach of the
PNR trestle bridge in Sumulong. This provided a remarkable manifestation of the lateral movement of the
ground.
Electric systems, waterwoks systems and telegraph systems in the town of Lopez, Calauag and Guinayangan
were severely disrupted.. In Calauag, water main pipes were either fracured or severed. Electric and telegraph
lines snapped due to appreciable horizontal movements of the ground. Fires which broke out during the
earthquake were immediatel controlled by alert local firefighters.
In the town of Lopez, a concrete electric post broke on its base and toppled down, pinning 5 youngsters who
embraced the post to prevent themselves from being thrown off their feet due to the strong shaking of the
ground.
Disruption to water system was minimal. In Barrio Hondagua, Lopez a 3’4’’ water pipe was subjected to
tensional forces which resulted in the breaking and seperation of the pipes.

Agriculture
The agricultural industry in the epicentral area is based mainly on coconut. The effect of earthquake on this
industry was not felt immediately, but after a few months had elapsed. Coconut production registered low
because of the shaking down of young nuts during the earthquake.
Furthermore, the roots of some trees situated within a distance of about 1 km. on both sides of the fault traces
were cut off as a consequence of the horizontal ground movement, thus affecting their fruit bearing capability.
Concrete fishpond dikes in the epicentral region were cracked although to a minor extent. Mud dikes which
were loosely made toppled down while others were fissured.
Geologic Features and Effects
Features and Effects Related to Faulting
The most interesting feature in this earthquake was the remarkable extent of faulting. The farthest observable
fault trace from the epicenter is 90 kms. away in the coastal barrio of Sumulong, Calauag.
Ground breakages were seen along the segment of the Philippine Fault, from the western coast of Ragay Gulf
to Calauag Bay, a stretch of about 30 kms. The fault traces exhibited moletrack features with ground fissures
arranged in enchelon to one another in an E-W trend. From Barrio Cibong towards barrio Sintones in the town
of Guinayangan, some 6 kms. northwestward, the traces were observed to have followed a moderate
deppression.
During the second field survey to the epicentral area, a 3.4 meters offset of the shoreline in Barrio Cabong,
Guinayangan was observed. Ground displacement was laso left lateral.

Other Geologic Features:

The strong shaking of the ground during the Ragay Gulf Earthquake caused two areas along the Calauag-
Guinayangan municipal road between kms 236-238 to subside. One of the resulting depressions was 225
meters long while the other was 95 meters long. The longer depression was 2 kms. NW from the first.
A fissure, 15 cms. Wide with 2 unknown lenth, lies along the foothills some 200 meter nw of the PNR terminal
in Calauag. Its orientation is N80W. In Lopez, two fissures were observed along Lopez-Jaena St. These may be
due to settlement of the bank of Talolong River.
Close to the eastern bank of the Calauag River in Barrio Sumulong and Mabini, several sand boils were found.
Mudboils are formed when water- laden sediments are subjected to compressional forces thereby causing the
water and fine sands and muds to be injected into the air through fissures or to just upwellm towards the
surface.

Referemces:
Southeat Asia Association of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering; Volume IV, Philippines, 1985
Journal of the Geological Society of the Philippines; Volume XXVIII, June, 1974
Summarized by: Erlinda Q. Amin
Intensity VIII Calauag-Quezon, Lopez-Quezon, Guinayangan-Quezon
Intensity VII Alabat, Quezon
Intensity VI San Francisco-Quezon, Manila
Intensity V Quezon City, Romblon, Romblon, Daet-Camarines Norte
Intensity IV Tayabas-Quezon, MIA Pasay City, Ambulong Tanawan-Batangas, Legaspi-Albay, Infanta-
Quezon, Dagupan-Nueva Ecija
Intensity III Virac-Catanduanes, Catbalogan-Samar
 August 2, 1968 Ms 6.3
 March 17, 1973 Ms 7.0
 August 17, 1976 Ms 7.9
 August 17, 1983 Ms 6.5
 February 8, 1990 Ms 6.8
 June 14, 1990 Ms 7.1
 July 16, 1990 Ms 7.9
 November 15, 1994 Ms 7.1
 May 27, 1996 Ms 5.6
 June 7, 1999 Ms 5.1
 March 6, 2002 Ms 6.8
 February 15, 2003 Ms 6.2
 February 6, 2012 Ms 6.7
 October 15, 2013 Ms 7.2