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Massive earthquake M 7.6 struck off the Philippines coast

massive-earthquake-m7-6-struck-off-the-philippines-coast

A massive earthquake with recorded magnitude of 7.6 struck Philippine Islands region on August 31, 2012 at 12:47 UTC. USGS first reported M7.9 then downgraded to M7.6. Recorded depth was 34.9 km (21.7 miles) according to USGS. EMSC first reported M8.1, now is also reporting M7.6 but there is difference in depth. They measured depth of 20 km. Epicenter was located 94 km (58 miles) E of Sulangan, Philippines at coordinates 10.838°N, 126.704°E.

In next 90 minutes there were 6 strong M5+ aftershocks recorded by EMSC.

The head of the Philippine seismology agency, Renato Solidum, said his bureau had initially recorded a magnitude of 7.7.

GDACS reports this earthquake can have a low humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability. About 13000 people live within 100km.

The tsunami warning has already been lifted for Japan and Taiwan and several other Pacific state and islands, though it remains in effect for Indonesia and the Philippines.

Mr. Solidum said that residents living along the coastline of eastern Samar Island, which was some 66 miles from the quake’s epicenter, had been advised to evacuate to high ground in case of the tsunami.

Affected locations – Source GDACS

Date Name Country Tsunami wave height (m)
30 Sep 2012 13:55:00 Burgos Philippines   1.1m
30 Sep 2012 13:55:00 Sapao Philippines   1.1m
30 Sep 2012 13:55:00 Alegria Philippines   1.1m
30 Sep 2012 13:59:00 Cagosoan Pt Philippines   1.1m
30 Sep 2012 14:05:00 Homonhon Philippines   1.1m
30 Sep 2012 13:55:00 Libertad Philippines   1.1m
30 Sep 2012 13:55:00 Pilar Philippines   1.1m
30 Sep 2012 13:55:00 Caridad Philippines   1.1m
30 Sep 2012 13:55:00 San Isidro Philippines   1.1m
30 Sep 2012 13:55:00 Beilon Philippines   1.1m
30 Sep 2012 13:55:00 Baras Philippines   1.0m
30 Sep 2012 13:55:00 Guiuan Philippines   1.0m
30 Sep 2012 13:57:00 San Benito Philippines   1.0m
30 Sep 2012 13:55:00 General Luna Philippines   1.0m

Tsunami wave – JRC

USGS report

Magnitude 7.6
Date-Time
  • Friday, August 31, 2012 at 12:47:34 UTC
  • Friday, August 31, 2012 at 08:47:34 PM at epicenter
Location 10.838°N, 126.704°E
Depth 34.9 km (21.7 miles)
Region PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
Distances 94 km (58 miles) E of Sulangan, Philippines
106 km (65 miles) ESE of Guiuan, Philippines
161 km (100 miles) ESE of Borongan, Philippines
174 km (108 miles) NE of Surigao, Philippines
Location Uncertainty horizontal +/- 13.3 km (8.3 miles); depth +/- 2.8 km (1.7 miles)
Parameters NST=688, Nph=688, Dmin=435.3 km, Rmss=0.98 sec, Gp= 11°,
M-type=(unknown type), Version=A
Source
  • Magnitude: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
    Location: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID usc000cc5m

 

Aftershocks:

By 14:42 UTC – EMSC reported 6 aftershocks in the same region:

1. 13:14 UTC – Magnitude 5.5 at depth of 10 km
2. 13:27 UTC – Magnitude 5.5 at depth of 30 km
3. 13:31 UTC – Magnitude 5.4 at depth of 10 km
4. 13:36 UTC – Magnitude 5.1 at depth of 117 km
5. 13:40 UTC – Magnitude 5.3 at depth of 60 km
6. 14:15 UTC – Magntude 5.0 at depth of 15 km

By the same time USGS reported 4 aftershocks:

1. 13:14 UTC – Magnitude 5.5 at depth of 24.3 km
2. 13:27 UTC – Magnitude 5.4 at depth of 35.0 km
3. 13:36 UTC – Magnitude 4.8 at depth of 20.6 km
4. 13:40 UTC – Magnitude 5.4 at depth of  48 km

 

Last 5 days overview:

In last 5 days there were 4 very strong earthquakes. Check our Seismic activity monitor to follow world earthquakes on live map along with reports from different agencies:

(1) August 26 – M6.6 Molucca Sea
(2) August 27 – M7.4 offshore El Salvador
(3) August 30 – M 6.7 Jan Mayen Island
(4) August 31 – M 7.6 Philippines

Update:

Unfortunately this earthquake turned out to be deadly. A house collapsed via a landslide in Southern Cagayan de Oro city on the South Island of Mindanao killing a 54-year-old woman and injuring her 5-year old grandson.

The quake knocked out power in several other towns and cities across the central and southern Philippines, though it was restored in some areas later Friday.

Aftershocks and following world earthquakes by 20:06 UTC reported by USGS:

 5.3   2012/08/31 18:38:55   13.257   50.456 10.2  GULF OF ADEN
 5.0   2012/08/31 18:37:47   2.651   -95.235 10.0  GALAPAGOS ISLANDS REGION
 5.2   2012/08/31 18:21:35   -4.981   151.867 77.4  NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
 4.9   2012/08/31 18:01:57   13.142   50.484 10.0  GULF OF ADEN
2.7 2012/08/31 17:58:09   38.999  -122.136 8.1  NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
 5.0   2012/08/31 17:00:35  -55.770   -27.554 35.4  SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
 5.1   2012/08/31 16:55:09   11.022   126.714 14.0  PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
 4.8   2012/08/31 15:47:38   13.225   50.456 10.0  GULF OF ADEN
 4.8   2012/08/31 15:44:56   13.327   50.404 10.0  GULF OF ADEN
 4.9   2012/08/31 15:24:07   10.364   126.885 42.9  PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
 5.0   2012/08/31 14:59:58   10.379   126.849 35.0  PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
2.5 2012/08/31 14:32:18   32.978  -115.433 7.0  SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
2.6 2012/08/31 14:20:37   60.030  -152.640 117.4  SOUTHERN ALASKA
2.5 2012/08/31 14:17:26   37.797  -120.001 31.5  CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
 4.9   2012/08/31 14:16:02   10.440   126.602 31.7  PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
2.9 2012/08/31 14:04:28   32.985  -115.468 4.3  SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
3.5 2012/08/31 13:56:02   32.983  -115.450 6.9  SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
 5.4   2012/08/31 13:40:30   10.454   126.725 20.6  PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
 4.8   2012/08/31 13:36:34   10.368   126.855 48.0  PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
 5.1   2012/08/31 13:31:39   10.413   126.838 46.9  PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
2.7 2012/08/31 13:30:34   33.020  -115.536 7.3  SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
2.9 2012/08/31 13:29:52   33.031  -115.535 14.0  SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
 5.4   2012/08/31 13:27:33   10.522   126.797 35.0  PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
2.9 2012/08/31 13:24:06   33.158  -116.026 6.4  SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
 5.5   2012/08/31 13:14:58   10.549   126.844 24.3  PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
 7.6   2012/08/31 12:47:35   10.838   126.704 34.9  PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
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