Top 5 most destructive

earthquakes in the
Philippines
West side of the Ruby Tower
Ground fissures in Casiguran
Tuason Building in Manila
 The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
(PTWC) in Honolulu issued a Tsunami
Watch for the Pacific and queried tide
gauge stations in Okinawa, Yap and
Malakal. Based on negative reports from
these stations, the watch was cancelled.
Unfortunately, minutes after the
earthquake, a large local tsunami struck
the region. There was no time to issue a
local warning
Children playing among the ruins at Cotabato (Photo: G. Pararas-Carayannis)
 July 16, 1990: Parts of Luzon, particularly
Baguio City and Cabanatuan City, were
damaged following a 7.9-magnitude
earthquake. At least 1,200 people died
from the quake.
SAINT VINCENT CHURCH

SKYWORLD CONDOMINIUM
UNIVERSITY OF BAGUIO
BAGUIO HILLTOP HOTEL
BAGUIO HILLTOP HOTEL
BURNHAM PARK-TENT CITY

ROYAL INN
VOLUNTEER RESCUERS
 February 6, 2012: Nearly 60 people were
killed when a 6.9-magnitude earthquake
hit Negros Oriental
The quake destroyed another chapel in
Negros Oriental
 October 15, 2013: Centuries-old
churches in Bohol and Cebu crumble
down to a 7.2-magnitude tremor, which
also killed 222 people and injured 976
others. (Sunnex)
 The
Dynamic
Earth
Plate Tectonics
Plate Tectonics
RP is vulnerable to almost all types of natural
hazards because of its geographical location
 EARTHQUAKE
Sudden unexpected and most
destructive force of nature.

It strike without warning and it

may come with small or large
tremors.
 The Earth’s crust is divided into broad
pieces called TECTONIC PLATE floating
above the liquid mantle hundreds of miles
below. This TECTONIC PLATES are
constantly moving by convection method in
the mantle of the earth that the movement is
very slow, which is about half an inch per
year.

95% of earthquakes happen along the

boundaries between TECTONIC PLATES.
 RP DISASTER RISK PROFILE

The Philippine Archipelago occupies the western ring of

the Pacific Ocean (Western Segment of the Pacific Ring of Fire), a
most active part of the earth that is characterized by an ocean-
encircling belt of active volcanoes and
earthquake generators (faults).
 Earthquakes occur within
the Philippine Archipelago
every now and then mainly
because the country is
situated along two major
tectonic plates of the world –
the PACIFIC PLATES and the
EURASIAN PLATES.
1. Tectonic 2. Volcanic
- earthquakes produced by - earthquakes produced by
sudden movement along movement of magma beneath
faults and trenches volcanoes
Generation of earthquakes
 NORMAL
BEFORE FAULTING

REVERSE or THRUST

STRIKE-SLIP
Pilapils (rice paddy dikes) in Imugan, Nueva Vizcaya displaced left-
laterally by the ground rupture of the 1990 Northern Luzon Earthquake.
A buckled section of National Highway 5 in Capintalan, Nueva Ecija after
being transected by the ground rupture of the 1990 Northern Luzon
Earthquake.
 Devised by
Charles Richter for
studying
earthquakes in
California
 Proportional to
the energy
released by an
earthquake
Magnitude Description
Scale
1 Earthquake with M below 1 are only detectable
when an ultra sensitive seismometer is operated
under favorable conditions.
2 Most earthquakes with M below 3 are the "hardly
perceptible shocks" and are not felt. They are only
recorded by seismographs of nearby stations.
3 Earthquake with M 3 to 4 are the "very feeble
shocks" and only felt near the epicenter.
Magnitude Description
Scale
4 Earthquakes with M 4 to 5 are the "feeble shocks" where
damages are not usually reported.

5 Earthquakes with M 5 to 6 are the "earthquakes with

moderate strength" and are felt over the wide areas; some
of them cause small local damages near the epicenter.

6 Earthquake with M 6 to 7 are the "strong earthquakes"

and are accompanied by local damages near the
epicenters. First class seismological stations can observe
them wherever they occur within the earth.
Magnitude Description
Scale

7 Earthquake with M 7 to 8 are the "major earthquakes" and can cause

considerable damages near the epicenters. Shallow-seated or near-
surface major earthquakes when they occur under the sea, may
generate tsunamis. First class seismological stations can observe them
wherever they occur within the earth.
8 Earthquake with M 8 to 9 are the "great earthquakes" occurring once
or twice a year. When they occur in land areas, damages affect wide
areas. When they occur under the sea, considerable tsunamis are
produced. Many aftershocks occur in areas approximately 100 to
1,000 kilometers in diameter.
9 Earthquakes with M over 9 have never occurred since the data based
on the seismographic observations became available.
 Based on effects
on people,
objects, buildings
and changes in
the environment
 Different scales
used in different
countries
1. Magnitude
A measure of the total energy
released at the earthquake’s
point of origin (below earth’s
surface) based on information
derived from a seismograph
(Reported in Arabic numerals
ex. 6.3, 7.5)
2. Intensity
Perceived strength of an
earthquake based on relative
effect to people and
structures (on the earth’s
surface); generally higher
near the epicenter (Reported as
Roman numerals ex. VII, X)
Recent examples of devastating earthquakes in Asia
1990, Luzon, Philippines M7.8 1,280 dead
1990, western Iran M7.7 40,000 dead
1991, northern India M7.0 2,000 dead
1992, Flores, Indonesia M7.5 2,500 dead (with tsunami)
1993, India M6.2 9,748 dead
1995, Kobe, Japan M6.9 5,502 dead
1997, northern Iran M7.5 1,560 dead 4,460 injured
1998, Afghanistan M6.1 2,323 dead
1998, Afghanistan M6.9 4,000 dead
1999, Izmit, Turkey M7.6 17,118 dead 50,000 injured
1999, Taiwan M7.7 2,297 dead 8,700 injured
2001, Bhuj, India M7.7 20,023 dead 167,000 injured
2003, Bam, Iran M6.6 26,200 dead 30,000 injured
2004, Sumatra, Indonesia M9.0 283,000 dead (with tsunami)
2005, Pakistan M7.6 80,361 dead
2006, Java, Indonesia M6.3 ~ 5,800 dead
2008, Sichuan, China M7.9 87,000 dead
2009, Sumatra Indonesia M7.6 1.115 dead
Earthquake threat is high in populated or
commercialized/industrialized cities
 EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS
Develop an Earthquake
Evacuation Plan and
Conduct Earthquake Drill

Ground Level Practice proper

What to do? Response (Earthquake
BEFORE Drill – Duck, Cover and
DURING Hold)
AFTER
an EARTHQUAKE
BUILDING Emergency EVACUATION PLAN
 ORIENTATION PRIOR TO THE CONDUCT
OF AN EARTHQUAKE DRILL

The main concern during an on-going shaking is how

to protect one’s self.

1. Give specific instructions on what to do during an earthquake.

a. Introduce DUCK, COVER and HOLD.
b. Take cover under a sturdy table or strongly supported
doorway
c. Watch out for falling objects.
d. Keep calm and don’t panic
 ORIENTATION PRIOR TO THE CONDUCT
OF AN EARTHQUAKE DRILL

The main concern during an on-going shaking is how

to protect one’s self.

2. Give specific instructions on what to do as soon as the

shaking stops.
a. Be alert
b. Listen to Marshal’s instruction
c. Walk out of the house/building in an orderly manner
d. While walking along the alleys/streets, be alert and watch
out of falling debris.
e. DON’T run, DON’t push, DON’t talk, DON’T return, DON’T
bring your things.
 ORIENTATION PRIOR TO THE CONDUCT
OF AN EARTHQUAKE DRILL

The main concern during an on-going shaking is how

to protect one’s self.

2. Give specific instructions on what to do as soon as the

shaking stops.
f. Quietly but quickly proceed to the designated evacuation
area and wait for further instructions from your
marshal/team leader
g. NEVER go back to the house/building once you are
outside. Building should be inspected by engineers for
possible damage after an earthquake.

3. For the marshal/team leader, make sure all group member are
accounted at once in the designated evacuation area.
SAFETY TIPS FOR SPECIFIC LOCATIONS
DURING AN EARTHQUAKE

The following are vital things we must remember and do

when an earthquake occurs:

1. When you feel an earthquake, DUCK, COVER and HOLD under

a desk or sturdy table, stay undercover until shaking stops
and hold onto your cover. If it moves, move with it;
2. If you are in high-rise building and not near a desk or table,
move against an interior wall and protect your head with your
arms. Do not use the elevators. Do not be surprised if the
alarm or sprinkler system comes on. Stay indoors. Glass
windows can dislodge during the quake and sail for hundreds
of feet;
3. If you’re outdoors, move to a clear area free away from
trees, signs, buildings, electric wires and poles;
SAFETY TIPS FOR SPECIFIC LOCATIONS
DURING AN EARTHQUAKE

The following are vital things we must remember and do

when an earthquake occurs:

4. If you’re on a sidewalk near buildings, duck into a doorway

to protect yourself from falling bridges, glasses, plaster and
other debris;
5. If you’re driving, pull over to the side of the road and stop.
Avoid overpasses, power lines and other hazards. Stay inside
the vehicle until the shaking is over;
6. If you’re in a crowded store or another public place, do
not rush for exit. Move away from display shelves containing
objects that could fall;
SAFETY TIPS FOR SPECIFIC LOCATIONS
DURING AN EARTHQUAKE

Follows are vital things we must remember and do when

an earthquake occurs:

7. If you’re in the kitchen, move away from the refrigerator,

stove and overhead cupboards. (Take time now to anchor
appliances and install security latches on cupboard doors to
reduce hazards); and
8. If you’re in a church or theater, stay in your seat and protect
your head with your arms. Do not try to leave until the
shaking is over, then leave in a calm, orderly manner. Avoid
rushing toward exits.
PHASES OF AN EARTHQUAKE
DRILL

PHASE 1: ALARM

A pre-arranged signal such as siren/bell should be

known to all. During the drill, the siren/bell
indicates earthquake/shaking. The occupants
will be alerted by this signal.
PHASES OF AN EARTHQUAKE
DRILL

PHASE 2: RESPONSE

While the siren/bell is ongoing, everyone should

move away from windows, glass or light
fixtures. In this phase, everyone should perform
“duck, cover and hold” under desk tables or
chairs. Remain in this position until the
“shaking” stops.
PHASES OF AN EARTHQUAKE
DRILL

PHASE 3: EVACUATION

Once the “shaking” stops, the occupants should

evacuate the building and proceed using pre-
determined routes to go to identified evacuation
areas.
PHASES OF AN EARTHQUAKE
DRILL

PHASE 4: ASSEMBLY

At the designated evacuation areas, the occupants

must be grouped together according to clusters
or according to the buildings disaster plan.
PHASES OF AN EARTHQUAKE
DRILL

PHASE 5: HEAD COUNT

Evacuation team leaders should check and make

sure all occupants are accounted for.
PHASES OF AN EARTHQUAKE
DRILL

PHASE 6: EVALUATION

An evaluation of the drill must be conducted to

identify problems encountered during the drill
and how this can be corrected in future
earthquake drills.