At 08:43 AM Philippine Standard Time (PST) of 27 July 2022 (Wednesday), a major

Magnitude (Mw) 7.0 earthquake shook the provinces in northwestern Luzon and
adjacent areas including Metro Manila. The earthquake has an epicenter located
17.64°N, 120.63°E - 003 km N 45° W of Tayum (Abra) and a depth of 17 kilometers.

The US Geological Survey reported the quake was measured at magnitude 7.1 east
southeast of Dolores town in Abra. It had a depth of 10 kilometers. 

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii said there is no tsunami threat
following the earthquake.

According to a report of ABS-CBN News posted at Aug 08 2022 10:51 AM, 3,235
aftershocks, some 977 were plotted while 63 were strong enough to be felt, the
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in its advisory.

The ground shaking was felt at PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS) VII
(destructive) in Abra and as far as Camarines Sur at PEIS I (scarcely perceptible). It
said most people are frightened and run outdoors, heavy objects and furniture overturn,
big church bells may ring, and old or poorly-built structures suffer considerable
damage. 

Based on the location and focal mechanism, the earthquake was generated by the Abra
River Fault with an oblique slip. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council (NDRRMC) reports that the earthquake caused 11 deaths, 574 injured and
damage to infrastructure, which include roads, health and government facilities, and
cultural sites, was estimated at P1.5 billion. Agricultural damage has also been
estimated at P55.9 million. (NDRRMC SitRep 12, 7 August 2022).

Most of the heavy structural damages were sustained in Abra and Ilocos Sur. Poor
engineering and the use of substandard construction materials were the major
contributing factors to the damages. Earthquake-induced landslides were documented
in the mountainous areas of Abra, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Kalinga and Benguet.
Liquefaction occurred along the coastal areas in Ilocos Sur and in the river channels in
Abra and Ilocos Sur. Sea level disturbance was also observed in some coastal areas of
Ilocos Sur and La Union.

Over 34,000 houses were damaged while 600 others were destroyed, the agency said. 

Half a million people or 136,000 families were affected in the quake across 3 regions in
Luzon, the NDRRMC added. More than 53,000 people are still displaced nearly 2
weeks since the earthquake struck Abra.

Why do earthquakes occur in northwestern Luzon?

Northwestern Luzon is one of the seismically active regions in the country because of
the presence of active faults that include the northern segments of the Philippine Fault,
Abra River Fault, West Ilocos Fault System, and Naglibacan Fault. There are other
nearby local faults, some of which may now be covered by recent deposits, and
offshore active faults that are potential sources of minor to strong earthquakes. The
Philippines is regularly rocked by quakes due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire",
an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and
across the Pacific basin.

References
PHIVOLCS, “Poster of the 27 July 2022 Magnitude 7.0 Northwestern Luzon Earthquake”
August 7, 2022
PHILVOCS, “PRIMER ON THE 27 July 2022 MAGNITUDE (Mw) 7.0 Northwestern
Luzon EARTHQUAKE ” July 27, 2022

ABS-CBN News, “Over 3,200 aftershocks recorded after Luzon

earthquake: Phivolcs” August 8, 2022

PhilStar Global, “7.0-magnitude earthquake hits Abra, rocks Metro

Manila” July 27, 2022