Name: PALOMERAS, CHONALYN M.
 Since 1968, PHIVOLCS has recorded twelve
PANGANIBAN, JERAMIE C.
PATRIMONIO, IMEE WENDAY MARIE D.
RAPISTA, KIMBERLY A.
RODRIGUEZ, LORRAINE NICOLE P.
SEY, KIM ROYTHER G.
VILLON, MEYNARD C.
Block & Yr.:BSCE 5B
MAJOR EARTHQUAKE ZONES IN THE PHILIPPINES
(Phivolcs iNformation 2000; phivolcs earthquake
portfolio 2004)
 Based on the details indicated, the map showed
the epicentres of approximately 25,100
earthquakes recorded in the country from 1608
to 2016.
 Only the province of Palawan appeared to be
quake-free among the rest of Philippine territory
similar to the previous map.
 Some people in the comments section noted
that Palawan and its neighbour Sulu, which was
also seen not affected with earthquakes, were
located above a different fault system.
 The country is prone to seismic activities
because it is part of a significant portion around
the Pacific Ocean called the “Pacific Ring of
Fire.”
 The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology or Phivolcs noted that the entire
archipelago lies above a massive fault system
called the Philippine fault zone or PFZ. It is
1,200 kilometres long and it traverses from
Luzon to Mindanao.
destructive earthquakes in the Philippines. This
record includes the infamous July 16, 1990
Luzon earthquake which caused innumerable
injuries and at least 1,100 deaths. Seismicity
(geographic and historical distribution of
earthquake events) is all over the country
except in the Palawan region.
12 DESTRUCTIVE EARTHQUAKES IN THE
COUNTRY FROM 1968
1. 1968 - Casiguran earthquake
-The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.3,
killed 270 people were killed and injured 261.
2. 1973 - Ragay Gulf earthquake
- Five years after the Casiguran quake, another
tremor occurred that measured magnitude 7.
Several houses, transporation and
communication lines, and underground pipes
were destroyed.
3. 1976 - Moro Gulf quake
- One of the strongest earthquakes recorded in
history had measured magnitude 7.9. It
happened on the island of Mindanao and
resulted in a tsunami. Around 1,440 died in
Region 9 while 1,379 got killed in Region 12.
More than 40,000 were left homeless in both
regions because of the quake.
4. 1983 - Laoag quake
- A magnitude 6.5 quake occurred in the Ilocos
Norte in 1983. The quake resulted in the death
of 16 people and injured 47.
5. 1990 - Bohol earthquake
- A magnitude 6.8 quake that happened in
February 1990 killed 6 people and injured more
than 200. The damage was estimated at P154
million.
6. 1990 - Panay quake
- Four months after the Bohol tremor, Panay was
severely damaged by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake
that left 8 people dead and 41 injured.
7. 1990 - Luzon earthquake
- The strongest earthquake to happen that year
occurred a month after the Panay quake. It was
recorded at 7.7 magnitudes. According to New York
Times, the quake killed at least 258 people,
including 48 children whose school collapsed and
210 others caught in stampedes and fallen
buildings.
 8. 1994 - Mindoro earthquake
- A magnitude 7.1 quake resulted in 78 casualties.
The quake also generated a tsunami, causing more
damage and casualties.
9. 1996 - Bohol quake
- The quake was felt in different municipalities in
Bohol including Clarin, Inabanga, Trinidad, Tubigon,
Loay and in certain cities of Cebu. It didn’t cause
any major damage to properties.
10. 1999 - Bayugan quake
- Bayugan in Agusan del Sur experienced a
magnitude 5.1 earthquake on June 7, 1999. A
strong aftershock occurred in Agusan del Sur.
11. 2002 - Palembang earthquake
- The magnitude 6.8 earthquake happened affected
the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North
and South Cotabato.nThe Office of Civil Defense
said 8 people were killed, 41 were injured and 7,684
families were affected.
12. 2003 - Masbate quake
- The Masbate quaked happened in February 2003.
The 6.2 magnitude quake was felt not only in
Masbate but also in Bicol, Leyte, Panay, Cebu,
Negros and Romblon.
13. 2013 - Bohol quake
- The magnitude 7.2 quake that struck in Bohol
Tuesday has killed more than 150 people so far and
affected almost 3 million families.
RISK TO EARTHQUAKES
The top ten provinces that are at risk to earthquakes
are:
1. Surigao Del Sur
2. La Union
3. Benguet
4. Pangasinan
5. Pampanga
6. Tarlac
7. Ifugao
8. Davao Oriental
9. Nueva Vizcaya
10. Nueva Ecija
 La Union and Pangasinan are prone to
earthquakes, especially the deep-focused ones,
due to the Manila Trench while Surigao del Sur
and Davao Oriental have earthquake hazards
due to Philippine Trench and nearby active
faults. Frequency of shallow and left-lateral
strike-slip earthquakes in Nueva Vizcaya,
Nueva Ecija, Eastern Pangasinan, Benguet and
La Union can be attributed to its location along
the Philippine Fault Zone.
 However, Ifugao, despite having less
earthquake occurrences is at risk because of its
very high vulnerability to disasters.
RISK TO EARTHQUAKE-INDUCED LANDSLIDES
Most of the provinces, except Palawan, are
susceptible to landslide hazards. The top ten provinces
that are at risk to earthquake-induced shallow landslides
are:
1. Ifugao
2. Lanao Del Sur
3. Sarangani
4. Benguet
5. Mountain Province
6. Bukidnon
7. Aurora
8. Davao del Sur
9. Davao Oriental
10. Rizal
 Ifugao, Lanao del Sur and Sarangani ranked
high because of their high vulnerability to
disasters while Rizal ranked the lowest.
Benguet, despite its low vulnerability, ranked
four because of its high exposure factor or
population density. Aurora ranked higher than
Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental despite its
low vulnerability compared with the other two
provinces. This is due to the fact that the whole
of Aurora is more susceptible to landslide than
the other two provinces.
RISK TO VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS
Philippines lie within the Ring of Fire, a region
of subduction zone volcanism surrounding the Pacific
Ocean. This explains the distribution of most volcanoes
in the Philippines. In 1991, Mt. Pinatubo eruption was
well known to be the most violent eruption in the 20th
century. Philippine Volcanoes are classified as Active,
Inactive and potentially active. Twenty-two (22)
historically active volcanoes are distributed all over the
archipelago.
 Since volcanoes are not present in some Largest earthquakes by year
provinces, these particular areas have no risk to
volcanic eruptions. The top ten provinces at risk are: The largest or most notable Philippine
1. Camiguin earthquakes per year since 2001. As for the repeated
2. Sulu entries, Moro Gulf near the Cotabato Trench is a
3. Biliran seismically active area (the location of the devastating
4. Albay 1918 Celebes Sea earthquake and 1976 Moro Gulf
5. Bataan earthquake). Meanwhile, Samar and Davao Region are
6. Sorsogon near the northern and southern portions of the
7. South Cotabato Philippine Trench, respectively.
8. Laguna
9. Camarines Sur
10. Batanes

 Camiguin has the highest risk because the land

area is so small such that a volcanic eruption
can affect the whole province. Sulu ranked
second because it has the most number of
active and potentially active volcanoes.

RISK TO TSUNAMIS

In November 14, 1994, a 7.1 magnitude

earthquake in Mindoro triggered a tsunami that left at
least 41 persons dead, mostly children and old people.

Most of the coastal areas have experienced a

tsunami or have a tsunami hazard potential. The top ten
provinces that are at risk to tsunamis are:

1. Sulu Deadliest earthquakes

2. Tawi-tawi The table below is a tally of the ten deadliest
3. Basilan recorded earthquakes in the Philippines since the
4. Batanes 1600s:
5. Guimaras
6. Romblon
7. Siquijor
8. Surigao del Norte
9. Camiguin
10. Masbate

 Sulu and Tawi-tawi took the top two seats

because of their high potential for tsunami
owing to their location between two nearby
trenches namely, Sulu Trench and Cotabato
Trench. Moreover, both provinces are also
densely populated and have very high
vulnerability. Similarly, most areas in Basilan
and Romblon are at high risk especially
because they have been previously affected by
a tsunami. (PHIVOLCS)