According to Phivolcs the 7.2 earthquake that hits the islands of Bohol and Cebu is the strongest earthquake they have recorded in the Philippines for the past 25 years. The last strongest earthquake that hit the country was way back the year 1990, the Luzon earthquake with 7.8 in magnitude.
Philippine Fault Lines (Photo: geosphere.gsapubs.org)
The 1990 earthquake is one of the most devastating earthquake that hits the Philippines with its epicenter at 15° 42′ N and 121° 7′ E near Rizal, Nueva Ecija but the worst affected areas are the cities of Baguio and Cabanatuan. The earthquake occurred last July 16, 1990 at around 4:26 PM.
During the 1990 Luzon earthquake scores of buildings collapsed and damaged. Before the 7.8 earthquake that hits the island of Luzon, coincidentally, Bohol island was also devastated by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Bohol on February 8, 1990.
The worst and strongest earthquake that struck the Philippines was the Moro Gulf earthquake happened on August 16, 1976, with it’s powerful 7.9 magnitude. The earthquake was followed with a huge Tsunami. The earthquake devastated the island of Mindanao and Borneo is considered as the worst earthquake in Philippine history as it occurred just after midnight when most people were asleep.
Here’s the list of Worst Earthquake that hits the Philippines since 1600’s:
1. Moro Gulf – 7.9 – August 16, 1976
2. Luzon Island – 7.8 – July 16, 1990
3. Luzon Island – 7.5 – November 30, 1645
4. Casiguran, Aurora – 7.3 – August 2, 1968
5. Bohol – 7.2 – October 15, 2013
6. Mindoro – 7.1 – November 15, 1994
7. Negros Oriental – 6.7 – February 6, 2012
8. Manila – Unknown – June 19 1665
9. Laoag – 6.5 – August 17, 1983
10. Mindanao – 7.5 – March 2, 2002
Watch the video report of the Bohol Cebu Earthquake:
