TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES – MANILA

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

PRINCIPLES OF EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

CE 407

ASSIGNMENT # 1

(SEISMIC EVENTS AND THEIR IMPACTS)

RATING

SUBMITTED BY:

1510397 SAMANTHA JOY B. BIONG

CE42S2

SUBMITTED TO:

ENGR. ROMMEL V. ROXAS

DECEMBER 04, 2020

“I affirm that I have not given or received any unauthorized help on this assignment, and that this
work is my own.”

1. Collect at least 3 different Philippine earthquake reports, bulletins, or advisories that were
published (electronically or in print) by different sources each, within the last 30 years.
Here are the 3 different Philippine Earthquake reports, bulletins or advisories that were published
within the last 30 years:
 Primer on the 22 April 2019 magnitude 6.1 Central Luzon Earthquake based on the
site of Department of Science and Technology PHIVOLCS Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology
 Primer on the 23 April 2019 magnitude 6.5 Eastern Samar Earthquake based on the
site of Department of Science and Technology PHIVOLCS Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology
 Primer on the 18 August 2020 magnitude 6.6 Masbate Earthquake based on the site
of Department of Science and Technology PHIVOLCS Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology
2. Examine the three earthquake reports, bulletins, or advisories. Define their characteristics by
summarizing the basic information (magnitude, intensity, location, information source, effects
or impacts, etc.) in a table. You can use your own formatting, style, and preference in
presentation of these data. The more comprehensive the examination of the reports is better.
Central Luzon Earthquake
Time: 5:11 PM
Date: April 22, 2019
Magnitude: 6.1
Class Magnitude: Moderate Earthquake
Location: Provinces of Zambales, Pampanga and Vicinity
Intensity Scale: (PEIS) VI (Very Strong)
Epicenter: 18 kilometers East of Castillejos, Zambales, on a mountainous area, at a depth of
10 kilometers.
Aftershocks: 421 aftershocks have been recorded
Why do earthquakes occur in Central Luzon? Central Luzon, which includes Zambales
and Pampanga, is one of the seismically active areas in the country because of the Philippine
Fault, Iba Fault, East Zambales Fault, and Manila Trench, which are the main earthquake
generators that can affect the area. In addition, there are other nearby local faults, which may
be covered by recent deposits, and may be sources of small- to moderate-magnitude
earthquakes.
Have large to moderate magnitude earthquakes affected Central Luzon in the past?
At least 18 onshore moderate earthquakes occurred in the vicinity of Zambales and Pampanga
in the past. Earthquakes ranging from M5.1 to M5.8 and maximum Intensity VI (Rossi-Forel
Scale) ground shaking was generated in the region from 1928 to 1993 based on SEASEE
Report and PHIVOLCS Earthquake Catalog. After the eruption of Pinatubo Volcano in 1991,
moderate-sized earthquakes occurred as a result of the activity of the volcano.
Can this earthquake indicate volcanic activity? No. Although the nearest active volcano
in Central Luzon is the Pinatubo Volcano, the Magnitude 6.1 earthquake was determined to
be tectonic in origin. However, as part of PHIVOLCS-DOST monitoring procedures for
moderate to large earthquakes occurring near active volcanoes, the Institute will closely
monitor earthquake events in relation to any activity that may be associated to Pinatubo
Volcano.
What can we expect from the current earthquake activity? The current seismic trend
indicates that the Magnitude 6.1 earthquake on 22 April 2019 is the main shock, which caused
the strong ground shaking. The succeeding small-magnitude earthquakes are the aftershocks.
The aftershocks may continue to occur for several days to weeks, some of which may be felt.
However, the probability of an earthquake higher than Magnitude 6.1 to occur from the same
source is low.

Eastern Samar Earthquake

Time: 1:37 PM
Date: April 23, 2019
Magnitude: 6.5
Class Magnitude: Strong Earthquake
Location: Samar and Vicinity
Intensity Scale: (PEIS) VI (Very Strong)
Epicenter: 9 kilometers NorthWest of San Julian, Eastern Samar at a depth of 65
kilometers
Aftershocks: 37 aftershocks have been recorded
Why do earthquakes occur in Samar Island? Earthquakes in Samar are generated by the
movement of the active faults which includes the Central Samar Fault, Eastern Samar Fault
and Salcedo Fault and subduction (diving) of the Philippine Sea Plate along the Philippine
Trench. In addition, there are other nearby local faults, which may not be manifested on the
surface, and may be sources of small to moderate-magnitude earthquakes.
Have strong to major earthquakes affected Samar Island in the past? At least 24
onshore moderate earthquakes occurred in the Samar Island in the past. Earthquakes
ranging from M5.0 to M6.8 and maximum Intensity VI ground shaking was generated in the
region from 1907 to 2016 based on SEASEE Report and PHIVOLCS Earthquake Catalog.
In 2012, an offshore major earthquake with M7.6 struck east of Samar Island that generated
a maximum Intensity VII was felt in Guiuan, Oras, Sulat and Borongan City, Eastern Samar.
Likewise, two M7.0 earthquakes struck east of Samar Island in 1995 and 1996.
What was the cause of the Magnitude 6.5 earthquake? The M6.5 Eastern Samar
Earthquake was caused by the movement along the Philippine Trench. Subduction (diving)
of the Philippine Sea Plate along the Philippine Trench.
What can we expect from the current earthquake activity? The current seismic trend
indicates that the Magnitude 6.5 earthquake on 23 April 2019 is the main shock, which
caused the strong ground shaking. The succeeding small-magnitude earthquakes are the
aftershocks. The aftershocks may continue to occur for several days, some of which may be
felt. Although the occurrence of an earthquake higher than Magnitude 6.5 cannot be
discounted, its occurrence from the same source area is low.

Masbate Earthquake
Time: 8:03 AM
Date: August 18, 2020
Magnitude: 6.6
Class Magnitude: Strong Earthquake
Location: Masbate and Vicinity
Intensity Scale: (PEIS) VII (Destructive)
Epicenter: 7 kilometers S29°E of Cataingan (Masbate) and a depth of 21 kilometers.
Aftershocks: 244 aftershocks have been recorded
 Why do earthquakes occur in Masbate? Masbate is one of the seismically active regions in
the country because of the presence of active faults that include the Masbate segment of the
Philippine Fault, and potentially active faults that include Uson Fault and the Southern
Masbate Fault. There are other nearby local faults, some of which may be covered by recent
deposits, and offshore active faults that could be sources of minor to strong earthquakes.
Have major to moderate earthquakes affected Masbate in the past? At least 11
earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from M6.0 to M7.0 affected Masbate Province and
vicinity between 1869 and 2003 based on the PHIVOLCS Earthquake Catalog and the report
by the Southeast Asia Association of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering (SEASEE).
The last strong earthquake that occurred in the province was a M6.2 event on 15 February
2003. This earthquake generated an approximately 23-km long surface rupture. The maximum
ground shaking intensity was felt at PEIS VIII (Very Destructive) within the epicentral area.
It was felt as far as Kalibo, Aklan, which is ~200 kilometers away from the epicenter.
Can this earthquake indicate volcanic activity? No. The nearest active volcano is the
Biliran Volcano which is approximately 65 kilometers from the epicenter and this earthquake
is tectonic in origin.
What can we expect from the current earthquake activity? Minor to moderate aftershocks
are expected to occur in the epicentral area but occurrences of strong aftershocks cannot be
discounted. These may continue for several days to weeks, some of which may be felt.

3. On the actual, what were the impacts of the three earthquake events to the lives of the
affected people? Provide proof such as, but not limited to photos with descriptions, on the
actual effects of the three earthquake events.
Damage to Infrastructure in Pampanga and Zambales:

Damage House vacated by residents Damage noted at Water Reservoir in Porac

Chuzon Supermarket buried some 40 individuals Totally damaged House in Brgy. Nabuclod

The Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) on April
23, 10 AM, reported that 6-year old Waring Serano died due to massive head injuries after being
hit by falling rocks in San Marcelino. Chuzon Supermarket, a four-story building in the town of
Porac in Pampanga, collapsed during the quake burying an unknown number of people. The
NDDRMC recorded a total of 29 damaged structures, including Clark International Airport.
Zambales PDDRMO reported damage to public infrastructure in San Marcelino, Zambales. On
April 22, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that it has PHP 1.3
billion worth of stand-by quick reponse funds and prepositioned goods in the form of family food
packs and other non-food items. Four registered evacuation centers housing 245 displaced families
in Zambales.

Damage to Infrastructure in Eastern Samar:

Damage of Highways Totally damaged Building

The magnitude 6.5 quake occurred at 1:37 p.m., with its epicenter traced at nine kilometers
northwest of San Julian, Eastern Samar. The tremor, which some residents of Eastern Samar
described as a “sudden jolt,” left cracks on some roads and bridges as well as private and public
buildings, including a church and the municipal building of San Julian. “It’s the first time that I
have experienced this kind of earthquake. It was like a sudden jolt,” Albert Dolot, a resident of
Borongan, Eastern Samar, told The STAR in a phone interview, adding he and his mother
immediately evacuated to a nearby [Link] occurrence of successive strong tremors is not
uncommon considering the country’s geographical location, according to Solidum. “It is normal
and coincidental,” he said in a text message to The STAR.

Damage to Infrastructure in Masbate:

Damage of houses Toppled house after quake struck in Masbate

One person was killed, another was injured, while several houses and structures were damaged
when a magnitude-6.5 earthquake jolted Masbate earlier today, authorities said. Killed was Gilbert
Sauro, a retired police colonel living in Cataingan, where the quake’s epicenter was located, Bicol
regional police spokesperson Maj. Ma. Luisa Calubaquib said. One Ronalyn Condrillon, also of
Cataingan, was injured, Calubaquib said, citing field reports. Sauro and Condrillon’s houses in
Brgys. Concepcion and Poblacion were damaged by the temblor, she said. Initial reports indicated
that the Public Attorney’s Office, the old and new Cataingan Public Markets, the town police
station, a concrete road portion, and the docking area of Cataingan Port were also damaged,
Calubaquib said. Local police and members of the Cataingan municipal government are
conducting search and retrieval operations in the affected areas, she said. Earlier, the Office of
Civil Defense-Bicol said houses made of light materials, as well as some partly concrete, were also
damaged in Palanas town.