NAME: ____________________________________________________ SCORE: _____________

GRADE & SECTION: __________________________ DATE: ______________

ACTIVITY 1

Earthquake Wreaks Havoc in the Philippines

More than 1,000 people are killed when a 7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes Luzon Island
in the Philippines on this day in 1990. The massive tremor wreaked havoc across a sizeable
portion of Luzon, the country’s largest island, with Baguio City suffering the most devastatin g
effects.
The epicenter of the quake, which struck at 4:26 p.m., was north of Manila in the Nueva
Ecija province. Reports indicate that the shaking went on for nearly a full minute. Collapsing
buildings were the main cause of damage and death. Getting out of a multi-story building was a
good safety precaution that afternoon, although many people were injured and a few even died
in stampedes of others doing the same thing.
At Christian College, a six-story building completely collapsed, trapping approximate ly
250 students and teachers inside. Heroic rescue efforts saved many, but some victims who did
not die in the collapse were found dead later from dehydration because they were not pulled out
in time.
All types of buildings, including several resort hotels in Baguio, known as the
Philippines’ Summer Capital, suffered tremendous damage. Most of the city’s 100,000 residents
slept outdoors that evening and during the following week, afraid to return to their homes amid
the frequent aftershocks. For days, workers pulled bodies from the demolished buildings in
Baguio. The best estimate is that 1,000 bodies were eventually recovered. At least another 1,000
people suffered serious injuries. Rescue efforts were hampered severely because the three main
roads into the city were blocked by landslides. Hundreds of motorists were stranded on the
roads as well. Outside of Baguio, a chemical factory fire also caused terrible damage. The Tuba
gold and copper mine in the area lost 30 workers when a mine collapsed.
Baguio, sitting on at least seven fault lines, is now listed as one of the most risk -prone cities in
Asia. In addition to the risk of earthquakes, the area’s high annual rainfall increases the
likelihood of deadly landslides.
American military personnel stationed in the Philippine archipelago took part in the
relief effort. The area was revisited by disaster less than a year later when Mount Pinatubo
erupted. Some geologists believe the two events were connected.
1. Where is the epicenter of the earthquake?

2. How many individuals are affected by the earthquakes?

3. When was the 7.7 Earthquake took place in the Philippines?

4. Where in the Philippines this earthquake have badly hit?

5. Which of the following are safer in during an earthquake?

A. inside the house C. inside the car
B. outside in an open area D. under a tree

6. Which agency of the government in the Philippines is monitoring the movement of the earth crust?
a. PHIVOLCS b. DOST c. PAGASA d. DENR

7. It is a sudden movement of the earth's crust caused by the release of stress accumulated along
geologic faults or by volcanic activity.
a. typhoon b. flood c. tsunami d. earthquake