December 2023 Mindanao earthquake
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake happened in Hinatuan, Caraga, Philippines, at the depth of 21 km (13 mi), on 2 December 2023, at 22:37 PST (14:37 UTC).[1] Two peoples died, and four others was injured. Nine peoples are also missing.
 Damaged PAGASA Doppler weather radar station in Hinatuan | |
| UTC time | 2023-12-02 14:37:03 |
|---|---|
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | 2 December 2023 |
| Local time | 22:37 |
| Magnitude | 7.6 Mww 7.4 Mw |
| Depth | 32.8 km (20.4 mi) |
| Epicenter | 8°31′37″N 126°26′56″E / 8.527°N 126.449°E |
| Type | Oblique-thrust |
| Total damage | ₱9835045 million (US$1.1 million) (estimated) |
| Max. intensity | VIII (Severe) VII (Very strong) |
| Tsunami | 64 cm (2.10 ft) |
| Aftershocks | 1,583 |
| Casualties | 2 dead, 4 injuries, 9 missing |
Tectonic setting
changeThe Philippines islands were made in a long process where parts of the Earth went under each other and crashed together. This causes a lot of earthquakes there. These earthquakes happen because the Philippine Sea Plate and the Sunda Plate are colliding. They don't just crash straight into each other; instead, they slide against each other at an angle. This sliding is taken care of by the Philippine fault system, which is a big crack in the Earth where things are moving horizontally. In one part of the fault, in the northern and central Leyte sections, it's moving about 33 ± 11 millimeters per year.
In the southern part of the Philippine fault, which is mainly in eastern Mindanao, things are more complicated. It's not just one big crack; it's like a puzzle with different pieces. Mindanao island is right on the border where the Sunda Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate are colliding. Some of the movement between these plates is managed by the Philippine fault and also by one part where the plates are going under each other, called the Cotabato trench.
Earthquake
changeThe United States Geological Survey said the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.6 and a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of VIII (Very Strong).[1] The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.9 and that it measured V (Strong) on the PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale in Tandag.[2]
The earthquake happened as a result of shallow oblique-thrust faulting along the Philippine Trench. The Philippine Sea Plate moved towards the west-northwest compared to the Sunda Plate. The earthquake's impact was strongest near the center and slightly higher, covering an area of about 80 km × 80 km (50 mi × 50 mi). The movement reached a maximum of about 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in).[1]
PHIVOLCS recorded over 819 aftershocks in total.[2] Within nearly a day of the earthquake, the United States Geological Survey recorded 113 aftershocks with a magnitude above 4.5. These aftershocks happened southeast of the main earthquake.[3] The biggest aftershock, with a magnitude of 6.6, happened on December 3.[4]
Tsunami
changeTsunami warnings were issued by PHIVOLCS in Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental,[5] and NHK said that tsunami waves up to 1 m (3.3 ft) might hit Japan's southern coast.[6] The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also said that they tsunami waves to be as high as 1–3 m (3.3–9.8 ft) in the Philippines, 0.3–1 m (0.98–3.28 ft) in Palau, and less than 0.3 m (0.98 ft) in American Samoa, China, South Korea, Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Hawaii, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia.[7]
A tsunami with a height of 64 cm (2.10 ft) was seen on Mawes Island. On Hachijō-jima, a Japanese island located 290 km (180 mi) south of Tokyo, waves measuring 40 cm (1.3 ft) were documented. In Davao, the tsunami reached a height of 8 cm (3.1 in).[7]
Impact
changeTwo deaths were recorded, one in Tagum and another in Bislig. Both deaths were because of collapsing walls. Four people were injured and nine others were missing.[8] According to defense secetary, Gilbert Teodoro, 529 families were affected.[9] In Hinatuan, three houses collapsed, one was damaged, and power outages happened.[10] Minor damage happened in Butuan, Surigao, Sayak, Tandag and Bislig airports.[11] Some houses were damaged in Agusan del Sur, where power was knocked out in the entire province. In Bayugan, a store's wall collapsed. Several houses, bridges, and mosque were damaged, power outages and people passing out from the earthquake in Davao City.[12][10] Patients were evacuated from a hospital in Butuan. Hinatuan's government estimated infrastructure damage at ₱9.8 million (US$197,000). 268 houses were damaged, and 90 were destroyed, totaling ₱44 million (US$900,000). The overall estimated damage was ₱54.8 million (US$1.1 million).[13]
References
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 National Earthquake Information Center (2 December 2023). "M 7.6 - Mindanao, Philippines". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Magnitude 7.4 earthquake rocks Surigao del Sur". Rappler. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ↑ "USGS earthquake catalog". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ↑ National Earthquake Information Center (3 December 2023). "M 6.6 - Mindanao, Philippines". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ↑ "Tsunami warning raised in Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental after M6.9 quake". ABS-CBN. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ↑ "Quake triggers Philippines, Japan tsunami warnings". RTHK. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2 December 2023). "TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER 2". Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ↑ Krishnasai, C., ed. (3 December 2023). "Pregnant woman among two dead, nine missing, and 529 families affected in Philippines earthquake". WION. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ↑ Nimoni, Fiona (3 December 2023). "Philippines earthquake: Pregnant woman killed by Mindanao quake". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Surigao del Sur magnitude 7.4 earthquake causes damage to houses, infra". GMA News. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ↑ "CAAP reports on status of Mindanao airports following quake". Journal. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ↑ "Mga tao sa mall at gusali sa Davao City, nagsilabasan dahil sa lindol". ABS-CBN. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ↑ UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (2023-12-03). "Philippines: 7.4 Earthquake Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur - Flash Update No.1, As of 03 December2023, 7 p.m. local time". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 3 December 2023.