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Scores killed or hurt as earthquakes rock southern Philippines

Earthquake in Philippines October 15, 2013.
Earthquake in Philippines October 15, 2013.

October 15, 2013, 1150 UTC (6:50 a.m. CDT). The death toll continues to climb in the powerful and deep earthquake that took place early today (Tuesday, October 15, 2013) in the Philippines, with some reports now as high as 93. The earthquake’s epicenter was near Tagbilaran, Bohol in the southern Philippine islands. The Pacific Tsunami Warming Center did not issue a tsunami warning for this event. The quake was initially reported as 7.2 magnitude and later downgraded to 7.1. This is a very powerful earthquake.

The initial quake was followed by several aftershocks of around 5.4-magnitude, and more aftershocks are possible.

5.5 aftershock summary via USGS

5.9 aftershock summary via USGS

USA Today reported just now:

The death toll from a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck the central Philippine island of Bohol on Tuesday rose to 93, as rescuers struggled to reach patients in a collapsed hospital. Centuries-old stone churches crumbled and wide areas were without power.

CBSNews reported earlier today that the earthquake toppled buildings and historic churches and sent terrified residents into “deadly stampedes:”

Panic ensued as people spilled out on the street after the quake struck at 8:12 a.m. It was centered about 20 miles below Carmen town on Bohol Island, where many buildings collapsed, roads cracked up and bridges fell. Extensive damage also hit densely populated Cebu city, across the narrow strait from Bohol, causing deaths when a fish port and a market roof fell.

The quake set off a stampede in a Cebu gym where people lined up to receive government cash assistance, killing five and injuring eight others, said Neil Sanchez, provincial disaster management officer. In another city nearby, 18 people were injured in the scramble to get out of a shaking building where the assistance was being handed out.

At least 16 people died in Bohol and 15 in Cebu, officials said. Scores were injured.

earthquake-philippines-twitter-image-AyyTangaLangDre

The Philippines, an island nation in the western Pacific, is located along the Ring of Fire and thus is subject to relatively frequently earthquakes.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) initially reported the quake as 7.2 magnitude, then lowered it to 7.1. A 7.1-magnitude earthquake is a very strong earthquake. Details of the quake are as follows:

Event Time
2013-10-15 00:12:32 UTC
2013-10-15 08:12:32 UTC+08:00 at epicenter

Location
9.765°N 124.022°E

Depth=20.0 km (12.4 mi)

Nearby Cities
5km (3mi) E of Balilihan, Philippines
21km (13mi) SSE of Tibigan, Philippines
22km (14mi) NE of Tagbilaran, Philippines
35km (22mi) NE of Danao, Philippines
629km (391mi) SSE of Manila, Philippines

Many volcanoes and earthquakes occur around the Pacific Ring of Fire. Image Credit: U.S. Geological Survey.

USGS also said:

Seismic activity along the boundaries of the Philippine Sea Plate … has produced 7 great (M>8.0) earthquakes and 250 large (M>7) events. Among the most destructive events were the 1923 Kanto, the 1948 Fukui and the 1995 Kobe (Japan) earthquakes (99,000, 5,100, and 6,400 casualties, respectively), the 1935 and the 1999 Chi-Chi (Taiwan) earthquakes (3,300 and 2,500 casualties, respectively), and the 1976 M7.6 Moro Gulf and 1990 M7.6 Luzon (Philippines) earthquakes (7,100 and 2,400 casualties, respectively). There have also been a number of tsunami-generating events in the region, including the Moro Gulf earthquake, whose tsunami resulted in more than 5000 deaths.

earthquake-philippines-twitter-image-@Vanbanares

Bottom line: At least 32 are dead and scores are injured in the powerful earthquake that rocked the southern Philippine islands on Tuesday, October 15, 2013. The USGS is now reporting the earthquake as a 7.1-magnitude. No tsunami warning was issued. Buildings toppled, and there was panic among the people.

Posted 
October 15, 2013
 in 
Earth

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