Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education

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Module in Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction

Grade 12
First Quarter
Week 6
MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCIES
 Identify various potential earthquake hazards (DRR11/12-If-g-17).
 Recognize the natural signs of an impending tsunami (DRR11/12-If-g-18).
 Analyze the effects of the different earthquake hazards (DRR11/12-If-g-19).

WHAT’S IN
Earthquake

Earthquake is the sudden or rapid shaking of the ground due to the release of potential energy stored
in rocks. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) is the service institute of
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that is mandated to monitor and study disasters that may
be caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other geotectonic phenomena. The scientific study of
earthquake is seismology and an expert in earthquake is called a seismologist. The instrument used in
recording seismic waves is a seismograph, and the record of this ground shaking is a seismogram.
In every occurrence of an earthquake, seismologists are locating its origin deep down the crust, which is
called the focus or the hypocenter. The location in the surface directly above the focus or hypocenter is called
the epicenter. Violent shaking occurs in the epicenter. As the distance from the focus and epicenter increases,
the shaking of the ground decreases.
An earthquake can be described through its magnitude and intensity. The magnitude of an earthquake
is an estimate of the amount of energy released at the focus or origin of the earthquake. The magnitude of an
earthquake is recorded by an instrument called seismograph. Richter scale is used for the quantitative measure
of the earthquake’s magnitude, and it is reported in Arabic numerals (ex. Magnitude 6.7 or 7.4). The higher the
number, the greater is the magnitude of the earthquake. The strongest ever recorded magnitude of an
earthquake was 9.5 which occurred in 1960 in Chile, South America according to United States Geological Survey
(USGS). Meanwhile, an intensity of an earthquake refers to the degree of shaking or the severity of its effects
on the earth’s surface. Intensity scales developed and used are the Rossi-Forel Scale, or the Modified Mercalli
Intensity Scale. These are reported in Roman Numerals (ex. Intensity Scale of VIII or IX). In the PHIVOLCS
Earthquake Intensity Scales (PEIS) of VIII, IX, and X, the shaking of an earthquake is classified as Very
Destructive, Devastating, and Completely Devastating.
Please remember that aftershocks or smaller earthquakes occur after a major or main earthquake.

Earthquake Hazards and its Effects

Earthquake hazards include ground shaking, ground rupture, liquefaction, landslide, tsunami, and fire.
Table 1 shows an overview on earthquake hazards.

Table 1. Overview on Earthquake Hazards

Earthquake Characteristics/Features Negative Effects
Hazards
1. Ground  Up-down and lateral movement or vibration of  Buildings vibrate (shake) as a
Shaking the ground result of ground shaking
  Caused by the passage of body and surface  Buildings and other structures
seismic waves that can’t withstand ground
shaking can have damages, can
Intensity of ground shaking depends on: be destroyed, or can collapse
 Magnitude of an earthquake: the greater the  Can cause landslide and
magnitude, the greater the severity of the liquefaction
ground shaking
 Distance from the epicenter: The greatest
severity of the ground shaking is near the
epicenter, and decreases away from the
epicenter
 Geologic condition of the area: a loose
unconsolidated sediment is prone to more
severe ground shaking
2. Ground  The offset or deformation of the land surface  Ground cracks
Rupture due to movement of the fault  Many structures can have
(surface  This geologic phenomenon commonly happens damages such as houses,
faulting or in shallow earthquakes commercial buildings, bridges,
surface roads and highways, tunnels and
rupture) canals
 Structures present across fault
zones can collapse
3. Liquefaction  It happens when ground shaking due to  Ground failure
moderate or intense earthquake results to the  Weakened support to building
mixing of body of sediments (sand or soil) and foundations which may
ground water, and as a consequence, the eventually sink or tilt
ground becomes soft and could no longer  Buildings or structures in the
support structures that will eventually sink or tilt liquefaction-prone area can have
 It can lead to ground failure extensive damages
4. Landslide It is a mass movement rocks, soil and debris down  Erosion
the slope primarily due to the action of gravity.  Destruction of buildings and
However, landslides can also be triggered by other structures
moderate and strong earthquakes  Landslides can partially or
completely block sections of
roads
5. Tsunami  The word means harbor waves in Japanese, is a  Coastlines or coastal areas are
series of waves generated by an earthquake that vulnerable to tsunamis.
occurs below or near the ocean floor  The height of tsunami waves can
 It can also be generated by volcanic eruption, reach more than 5 meters
landslide, meteorite or asteroid impact displacing causing destruction of properties
the water in the ocean. and loss of lives
 Tsunamis are different from tidal waves. Tidal  Rapid, violent flooding in
waves are caused by the gravitational force communities near coastal areas
between the earth and moon, whereas tsunami
waves are generated by the displacement of the
water in the ocean caused by the movement of
the fault under the sea during an earthquake.
 Tsunami is also different from storm surge. Storm
surge is the heightening of sea level that occurs
during typhoons or hurricanes.
6. Fire It is associated with broken gas pipes and  Destruction of properties and
damaged electrical lines as a result of damages loss of lives
caused by ground shaking to buildings and other
infrastructures.

Signs of an Impending Tsunami

1. If an earthquake occurs in the coastal region and it originated from the oceanic crust, a possible tsunami
can take place
2. Rapid fall in sea level may happen as the ocean water withdraws from the coastline. After the water
retreats, there is an abrupt surge of water towards the coastline.
3. Unusual roaring sound which could be an approaching tsunami.

DRRR Q1W6 Prepared by: Mamon, MAC, Retio, CA, Ferrer, LA, & Bernante, ECR