1988 Mindoro earthquake

Earthquake in the Philippines
12°22′34″N 121°04′01″E / 12.376°N 121.067°E / 12.376; 121.067TypeStrike-slipAreas affectedMindoro, PhilippinesMax. intensityMMI VI (Strong)[1]AftershocksFew. Strongest was a 5.6 Mw Casualties2 fatalities, 4 injuries

On June 19, 1988, 20:19:52 UTC, an earthquake measuring 6.2 Mw struck the central Philippine island of Mindoro. The quake struck in the early morning at a depth of 16.7 km (10.4 mi). It had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong)[1] on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale, and was located 1 km north-northeast of Bagong Sikat. The focal mechanism indicated strike-slip faulting. Most of the damage was in Mindoro where two people died and four were injured.[2]

Earthquake and aftershocks

The earthquake occurred at 4:19 AM (PST) in the southwest part of the island, measuring Mw  6.2. It was felt with a Mercalli intensity of VI (Strong).[3][1] The event was caused by strike-slip movement on a local fault which then produced aftershocks.[2] One of the strongest aftershocks recorded was a Mw  5.6 at 33 km depth. It occurred a day after the event. It reached an Intensity VI (Strong) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale and was centered 4 km north-northwest of Santa Teresa (Southwest of Mindoro).[4]

Damage and casualties

The earthquake caused ground fissures near the coast of the town of San Jose, the town closest to the epicenter. The sea level rose at least five feet shortly after the quake that receded quickly. No buildings collapsed in the town, although many concrete walls were badly cracked. Damage was restricted to San Jose, as there were no reports of damage in other towns of the island. Two people were killed in the earthquake, one of them was a 63-year old man who suffered a heart attack moments after. A woman and her three children were injured when they were hit by a falling wall.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey. Earthquakes & Volcanoes, Volumes 20-21. p. 197.
  2. ^ a b "Further Information on the 1988 Mindoro earthquake". earthquake.usgs.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  3. ^ "M 6.2 - 1 km NNE of Bagong Sikat, Philippines". earthquake.usgs.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  4. ^ "M 5.6 - 4 km NNW of Santa Teresa, Philippines". earthquake.usgs.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-10-07. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  5. ^ "Earthquake Injures 4 In The Philippines". Associated Press. June 20, 1988. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
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† indicates earthquake resulting in at least 30 deaths
‡ indicates the deadliest earthquake of the year