Deadliest Earthquake in the Philippines

1. Moro Gulf earthquake (1976) – Almost 8,000 people were killed by a record
7.9-magnitude earthquake and the resulting tsunami which hit the island of
Mindanao. The offshore tremor generated by the Cotabato trench caused a
tsunami, said to be responsible for 85 percent of the deaths. “The sea unloaded
its fury on everything near the shore. Houses and properties along the coastal
beaches of Lanao del Sur and Pagadian were practically washed out. Bits of
houses littered the sea and bodies littered the shore,” said the Phivolcs report.

2. Luzon earthquake (1990) – one of the strongest earthquakes to ever struck the
country occurred in several areas of Central Luzon and Cordillera region. This
7.8-magnitude tremor resulted to a total of 2,412 deaths and serious damage in
properties.

3. Casiguran earthquake (1968) – A 7.3-magnitude tremor, considered at the time

as the most destructive in the last 20 years, hit the town of Casiguran, Aurora
and the rest of Luzon. The six-story Ruby Tower in Binondo, Manila collapsed,
killing around 270 tenants, as other major buildings in the same area were
damaged. Extensive landslides and large fissures were observed in the
mountainous areas while a tsunami was also recorded.

4. Bohol earthquake (2013) – An earthquake of tectonic origin with a magnitude

of 7.2 occurred in Region VII specifically at Tagbilaran City, Bohol and Cebu City.
A total of 222 deaths and 976 were injured with a total of 671,103 families
(3,221,248 persons) were affected in 1,527 barangays in 60 municipalities and 6
cities in 6 provinces of Regions VI and VII. A total of P2,203,930,000 damaged to
properties were recorded.

5. Mindoro earthquake (1994) – Tsunami caused by the 7.1-magnitude

earthquake killed most of the 78 casualties from the said calamity. Affected by
the tsunami were coastal areas in Baco and Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. At least
1530 houses, out of the 7566 damaged, were washed away by the tsunami.
Largest earthquake in the Philippines
1. Magnitude 8.0 in Mindanao (August 17, 1876) – Right after the magnitude 8.0
earthquake, a massive tsunami, covering 700 kilometers of coastline nearby the
island, followed. The quake struck past midnight and people were caught by
furious water, which claimed 8,000 lives, injured 10,000, and left 90,000
homeless.

2. Magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Northern and Central Luzon (July 16, 1990) –
A total of 2,412 people died and at least ₱10-billion worth of damages to public
and private properties was reported after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck
Northern and Central Luzon at around 4:00 p.m. of July 16, 1990.

3. Magnitude 7.5 earthquake in Luzon (November 30, 1645) – The magnitude

7.5 earthquake that crushed Luzon on November 30, 1645 at about 8:00 pm was
called the “most terrible earthquake” in Philippines history. The Epicenter of the
said quake was in Nueva Ecija caused by the San Manuel and Gabaldon Faults.

4. Magnitude 7.3 in Casiguran, Aurora (August 2, 1968) – This earthquake killed

a total of 270 people. It also caused a massive landslide and tsunami

5. Magnitude 7.2 in Bohol (October 15, 2013) – This magnitude 7.2 earthquake
recorded 222 deaths, 8 missing, and 976 injuries. An estimated 73,000 structures
were also damaged.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/507653/deadliest-earthquakes-that-shook-the-philippines
https://filipiknow.net/earthquake-in-the-philippines/
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2013/10/30/ndrrmc-situation-report-on-the-effects-of-
the-earthquake-in-bohol-october-30-2013-600-a-m/
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/23096
https://www.propertyasia.ph/newsroom/2017/03/09/top-6-strongest-earthquakes-hit-
philippines/
https://faq.ph/top-10-strongest-earthquakes-to-hit-the-philippines/