Earthquake & its Potential hazards

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Geological Hazard
include internal earth processes such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, landslides, and related geophysical
processes.

HAZARD: A dangerous phenomenon (substance or human activity) that may cause loss of life, injury or other health
impacts, property damage, loss of livelihood and services, social and economic disruption or environmental damage

Earthquake
is the vibration of Earth produced by the rapid release of energy.

are triggered by the slippage along a fault on the Earth’s crust.

feeble shaking to violent trembling of the ground produced by the sudden displacement of rocks or rock materials
below the earth’s surface

Tectonic Earthquakes Volcanic Earthquakes

are those generated by the sudden displacement Earthquakes induced by rising lava or magma beneath
along faults in the solid and rigid layer of the earth. active volcanoes

Plate Tectonics
is the theory that proposes that Earth’s outer shell – its crust, are consists of individual plates that interact in various
ways and thereby produce earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains and the crust itself

Fault
refers to a fracture, fissure or a zone of weakness where movement or displacement has occurred or may
occur again

said to be “active fault” if it has historical and contemporary seismicity, has evidence of fault slip based on
displaced rocks or soil units of known age and displaced landforms

active fault is defined as a fault which has moved within the last 10,000 years

Richter Scale
measures the energy released by an earthquake

measures the earthquake magnitude – the total amount of energy released during an earthquake.

Intensity
measurement used in order to measure the degree of earthquake shaking at a given place based on the amount of
damage.

Intensity I: not entirely felt, only those people that are not moving may felt it. Things will slightly move from its
place.

Intensity II: Moderately felt, can be felt by people that are inside their homes, hanging objects will slightly sway
and the water in the container will have ripple effect.

Intensity III: Weak, can be felt by people inside their homes, inside buildings and those in the upper floors.
Vibration is comparable to a passing huge vehicle like trucks. Dizziness may also be felt by some people,

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 hanging objects will slightly sway and water inside containers will move moderately.

Intensity IV: Moderately Strong, in general, it can be felt by people inside and outside of buildings, people that
are sleeping can be awaken by the vibration. Objects hanging will sway strongly, glass windows may produce
sound because of vibration.

Intensity V: Strong. Can be felt by all people, may cause panic and fear to people, strong vibration are felt all
over the building and houses. Objects hanging will sway violently, things may overturn and glass utensils and
glass windows may break.

Intensity VI: Intensely Strong. May cause panic and fear, some people may be outbalanced because of the
shaking. Concrete structures may incur damage, weak and old buildings may collapse. Limited lanslide may
occur.

Intensity VII: Destructive. May cause infrastructural collapse on weak and old infrastructures, panic and fear.
Limited liquefaction may occur.

Intensity VIII: Very Destructive. Severe damage to infrastructure, ground rupture may occur, landslides may
occur, disruption of power lines, rupture of water pipes, liquefaction may also happen, and widespread panic may
follow.

Intensity IX: Intensely Destructive. Destruction of infrastructures, liquefaction, ground rupture, landslide and
panic may ensue. Blackouts on affected areas happens as power lines and posts collapses.

Intensity X: Devastation. Widespread destruction happens as all buildings collapses, tsunamis, liquefaction,
ground rupture and massive losses of lives will ensue.

Associated Risk
can happen anywhere, it can occur inland, in remote areas and in submarine areas, especially underneath the ocean.

Submarine earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can cause tsunamis

Tsunamis
are giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea.

do not dramatically increase in height. But as the waves travel inland, they build up to higher and higher heights as
the depth of the ocean decreases.

Speed of tsunami waves depends on ocean depth rather than the distance from the source of the wave

Soil Liquefaction
describes a phenomenon whereby a saturated or partially saturated soil substantially loses strength and
stiffness in response to an applied stress, usually earthquake shaking or other sudden change in stress

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 condition, causing it to behave like a liquid.

soil gradually loses strength and foundation due to impact and stress causing it to act like liquids during an
earthquake.

Landslide
also known as a landslip

is a form of mass wasting that includes a wide range of ground movements, such as rock falls, deep failure of
slopes, and shallow debris flows.

can occur in underwater, called a submarine landslide, coastal and onshore environments.

Although the action of gravity is the primary driving force for a landslide to occur, there are other contributing
factors affecting the original slope stability.

Ground-Shaking
disruptive up-down and sideways movement or motion experienced during an earthquake.

Strong ground shaking can cause objects to fall, break windows among others.

Strong ground shaking can also result to minor damages to buildings and worse, cause collapse of a structure. (e.g.
collapse of Hyatt Hotel, Baguio City after the 16 July 1990 Luzon Earthquake).

Most part of the Philippines will experience shaking at different degrees depending on magnitude of earthquake,
distance of one’s location from the fault that moved, local below surface conditions, etc)

Ground Rupture
displacement on the ground due to movement of fault .

This will be experienced by areas where fault passes through (note not all cracks on the ground that people see after
a strong earthquake are faults, some may just be surficial cracks because of ground failure)

The movement may have vertical and horizontal component and may be as small asless than 0.5 meters (Masbate
1994 earthquake) to as big as 6 meters (16 July 1990 Earthquake).

Rupture
sea waves resulting from the disturbance of ocean floor by an earthquake

This is a series of giant sea waves commonly generated by under-the-sea earthquakes and whose heights could be
greater than 5 meters.

Examples of recent tsunami events in the Philippines are the August 1976 Moro Gulf Earthquake and Tsunami and
the November 1994 Oriental Mindoro Earthquake and Tsunami, December 2004 Banda Aceh Earthquake (Indonesia),
and March 2011 Eastern Japan

Liquefaction
is a process that transforms the behavior of a body of sediments from that of a solid to that of a liquid when subjected
to extremely intense shaking.

As a result, any heavy load on top of the sediment body will either sink or tilt as the sediment could no longer hold the
load, such as what happened in Dagupan City during the 16 July 1990 earthquake.

Earthquake-induced Landslide
failures in steep or hilly slopes triggered by an earthquake

loose thin soil covering on the slopes of steep mountains are prone to mass movement, especially when shaken
during an earthquake.

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 Many landslides occur as a result of strong ground shaking such as those observed on the mountainsides along the
National Highway in Nueva Ecija and the road leading up to Baguio City during the 16 July 1990 earthquake

Tsunamis
sea waves resulting from the disturbance of ocean floor by an earthquake

is a series of giant sea waves commonly generated by under-the-sea earthquakes and whose heights could be
greater than 5 meters.

Tsunami
meaning “harbor waves”, “tidal waves”

commonly generated by disturbances associated with earthquakes occurring below or near the ocean floor.

occurs when the earthquake is shallow-seated and strong enough to displace parts of the seabed and disturb the
mass of water over it.

In addition, underwater volcanic eruptions and landslides can also generate a tsunami.

The increase in wave heights associated or during typhoons (when there are strong winds) or tropical cyclones are
called “storm surges”.

2 Kinds of Tsunami
1. Local Tsunami 2. Far Field/ Distant Tsunami

are confined to coasts
within a hundred kilometers
of the source usually
earthquakes and a
landslide or a pyroclastic
flow.
It can reach the shoreline
within 2 to 5 minutes.
can travel from 1 to 24 hours before reaching the coast of the
nearby countries.
These tsunamis mainly coming from the countries bordering Pacific
Ocean like Chile (1960 2010, 2015), Alaska in USA and Japan (2011).
PTWC (Pacific Tsunami Warning Center) and NWPTAC (Northwest
Pacific Tsunami Advisory Center) are the responsible agencies that
closely monitor Pacific-wide tsunami event and send tsunami warning to
the countries around the Pacific Ocean.

Storm Surge
wind-generated waves on the surface of the sea

are not tsunamis (undersea earthquake-generated)

Hazard Maps
This is a map of the Philippines showing locations of most destructive tsunami events recorded in Philippine history.
We had around 90 destructive earthquakes, around 40 tsunamis for past 400 years, and our coastal areas at eastern
and western margins fronting major seas and inland seas have been affected by tsunamis.

People and properties are affected by earthquake due to any or a combination of the following: unsafe location, poor
construction, people don’t believe or know that they be affected, people don’t know how they can be affected, people
don’t know what to do, and there is lack of timely and proper response.

Scientists have for so long studied earthquake occurrences and the hazards associated with them by looking at
impacts from major earthquakes.

Based on studies, given a specific earthquake scenario (magnitude) maps showing areas likely to be affected by a
certain specific hazard and the degree of expected impact are generated.

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 The purpose is to be able to use these maps in reference for making predictions about which areas are more
likely to be affected by hazards.

are maps that show different hazards that may affect a certain area.

For earthquakes, a ground shaking hazard map shows the distribution of earthquake shaking levels that have a
certain probability of occurring.

A ground rupture hazard map shows areas wherein faults cut across. There are hazard maps for liquefaction,
earthquake-induced landslide and tsunami.

Magnitude
refers to the amount of energy
released, measured by the amount of
ground displacement or shaking.
It is calculated based on record of the
earthquake (seismograph).
represented by Arabic numbers (4.8,
9.3)
Intensity
is the strength of an earthquake as perceived and felt by people in
a certain locality.
It is a numerical rating based on relative effects to people, objects,
environment and structures in the surroundings.
The intensity is generally higher near the epicenter.
It is represented by Roman Numerals (ex. II, IV, IX) .

Preventive Measures
1. Before an Earthquake

The key to effective disaster prevention is planning.

Know the earthquake hazards in your area

Follow structural design and engineering practices when constructing a house or a building

Evaluate structural soundness of the buildings and houses; strengthen or retrofit if necessary

Prepare your homes, workplace or schools:

Strap or bolt heavy furniture, cabinets to the walls

Check the stability of hanging objects like ceiling fans and chandeliers

Breakable items, harmful chemicals and flammable materials should be stored properly in the lowermost
secured shelves

Familiarize yourself with the exit routes.

Know where fire extinguishers, first aid kits, alarms and communication facilities are located. Learn how to use
them beforehand.

Prepare a handy emergency supply kit with first aid kit, canned food and can opener, water, clothing, blanket,
battery-operated radio, flashlights and extra batteries

Conduct and participate in regular earthquake drills

2. During an Earthquake

When you are INSIDE a structurally sound building or home…STAY there! Do the “Duck, Cover and Hold on”

If possible, quickly open the door for exit.

Duck under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on to it, or protect your head with your arms

Stay away from glass windows, shelves and other heavy objects

Beware of falling objects. Be alert and keep your eyes open.

If you’re OUTSIDE.. move to an open area!

Stay away from trees, power lines, posts and concrete structures

Move away from steep slopes which may be affected by landslides

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 If you’re near the shore and feel an earthquake especially if it’s too strong, MOVE QUICKLY TO HIGHER
GROUNDS. Tsunamis might follow.
III. If you’re in a moving vehicle, STOP and get out! Do not attempt to cross bridges, overpasses or
flyovers which may have been damaged.

3. After an Earthquake

Be prepared for aftershocks. Once the shaking stops, take the fastest and safest way out of the building.

DON’T…

…use elevators

…enter damaged buildings

…use telephone unless necessary

…PANIC

CHECK…

…yourself and others for injuries

..water and electrical lines for damages

…for spills of chemical, toxic and flammable materials

…and control fires which may spread

If you need to evacuate your residence, leave a message stating where you are going and bring your emergency
supply kit

Keep updated on disaster prevention instructions form battery-operated radios.

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