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1968 Casiguran earthquake

Coordinates: 16°18′58″N 122°04′01″E / 16.316°N 122.067°E / 16.316; 122.067
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1968 Casiguran earthquake
UTC time1968-08-01 20:19:22
ISC event817557
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local dateAugust 2, 1968 (1968-08-02)
Local time04:19:22
Magnitude7.6 Mw[1]
7.3 Ms[2]
Depth25 km (16 mi)[1]
Epicenter16°18′58″N 122°04′01″E / 16.316°N 122.067°E / 16.316; 122.067[1]
TypeThrust[3]
Areas affectedPhilippines
Max. intensityMMI IX (Violent)[1]

PEIS VIII (Very destructive)[2]
Tsunami.3 m (1 ft 0 in)[4]
Foreshocks10+[3]
Casualties207–271 dead, 261 injured[4]

The 1968 Casiguran earthquake occurred on 04:19:22 local time on August 2 with a moment magnitude of 7.6 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). The thrust earthquake's epicenter was in Casiguran, Quezon (now part of Aurora province). A small non-destructive tsunami was generated and at least 207 people were killed. The majority of the deaths occurred in the collapse of a six-story building in Manila.

Damage

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In Manila, many structures that suffered severe damage had been built near the mouth of the Pasig River on huge alluvial deposits. A number of buildings were damaged beyond repair while others only suffered cosmetic damage. 268 people were reported to have died during the collapse of the six-story Ruby Tower, located at the corner of Doroteo Jose and Teodora Alonzo Streets in the district of Santa Cruz.[5][a] The entire building, save for a portion of the first and second floors at its northern end, was destroyed. Allegations of poor design and construction, as well as the use of poor-quality building materials arose.[7] In the district of Santa Ana, one person was injured by debris from a damaged apartment building. Two more people from Aurora sub province and Pampanga died as a direct result of the quake. Around the town of Casiguran, there were several reports of landslides, the most destructive one at Casiguran Bay.[8]

Aftershocks

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The aftershock sequence throughout the month of August included many moderate shocks, including fifteen over 5.0 mb. The strongest of these occurred on August 3 with a 5.9 Ms event that produced intensities of III–IV in Manila.[9]

Aftermath and legacy

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The former location of Ruby Tower in Santa Cruz district is now a memorial hall which stands today.[7][10]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Some sources put the location of the site of Ruby Tower in Binondo, also in the same city.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "M 7.6 – Luzon, Philippines". United States Geological Survey. August 1, 1968. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Destructive Earthquakes in the Philippines". Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Su 1969, p. 459
  4. ^ a b PAGER-CAT Earthquake Catalog, Version 2008_06.1, United States Geological Survey, September 4, 2009
  5. ^ Moya, George P. (July 2, 2014). "When an earthquake hits Metro Manila". Rappler. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  6. ^ Ynares, Dr. Jun. "The Ruby Tower". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Marianne V. Go (December 14, 2006). "Group warns vs substandard construction materials". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  8. ^ "1968 August 02 Ms7.3 Casiguran Earthquake". Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  9. ^ Su 1969, pp. 465–468
  10. ^ "Of Manila Earthquakes and Ruby Tower". The Urban Roamer. April 27, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2020.

Sources

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