EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS

MELC

▪Identify various potential earthquake hazards

▪Recognize the natural signs of an impending tsunami;
▪Analyze the effects of the different earthquake
hazards
 What is an Earthquake?

➢Also known as quake, tremor, or temblor

➢Earthquake is the perceptible shaking of the surface

of the Earth, resulting from the sudden release of
energy in the Earth’s crust that creates seismic
waves (US Geological Science – USGS)
 Potential Earthquake Hazards

➢Geologists explain that an earthquake is a type of

hazard that depends on the strength of seismic
activity.
➢A large earthquake will always be followed by a
sequence of aftershocks that normally aggravates its
effect on human and material elements like buildings
and infrastructure
1. Ground Shaking or Ground Motion
• If an earthquake generates a large enough shaking
intensity, structures like buildings, bridges, and dams can
be severely damaged, and cliffs and sloping ground
destabilized.
• Perched or stacked objects may fall and injure or bury
anyone close by.
2. Ground Rupture
• Ground rupture is the visible breaking and displacement
of the Earth’s surface along the trace of a fault.

• Any structure built across the fault is at risk of being

torn apart as the two sides of the fault slip each other.
3. Liquefaction
• Liquefaction occurs when waterlogged sediments
are agitated by seismic shaking. This separates the
grains from each other, reducing their load-bearing
capacity.
• Buildings and other structures can sink down into
the ground or tilt over, whilst underground pipes and
tanks may rise up to the surface.
• When the vibrations stop the sediments settle down
again, groundwater is squeezed out of cracks and
holes in the ground cause flooding.
• The aftermath of liquefaction can leave large areas
covered in a deep layer of mud.
4. Earthquake-Induced Landslides
• Mass wasting, more commonly known as a
landslide, is the downslope movement of rocks or
sediments under the influence of gravity.
• It is a process that follows weathering.
• Landslides can have particularly devastating effects
like floods, blocking of rivers, death, and damage to
land and natural resources..
5. Tsunami
• Tsunamis are ocean waves triggered by earthquakes that
occur near or under the ocean, volcanic eruptions,
submarine landslides, or onshore landslides in which
large volumes of debris fall into the water.
• The damage and destruction from tsunamis depend on
the degree of flooding, wave impact on structures, and
erosion.
 Natural Signs of Impending Tsunami

1. Animal Behavior
▪Some zoologists hypothesize that some animal species
like elephants have the ability to sense subsonic
Rayleigh waves from an earthquake or a tsunami.
▪If correct and substantiated with more evidence,
monitoring their behavior could provide advance
warning of earthquakes and tsunamis.
• Before giant waves slammed into Sri Lanka and
India coastlines, wild and domestic animals
seemed to know what was about to happen and
fled to safety.

• According to eyewitness accounts, the following

events happened:
• Elephants screamed and ran for higher ground.
• Dogs refused to go outdoors.
• Flamingos abandoned their low-lying breeding
areas.
• Zoo animals rushed into their shelters and could
not be enticed to come back out.
2. Drawback
▪Drawback is when the ocean recedes from land before a
tsunami strikes.
▪A tsunami can appear in a number of ways. If the first
part of a tsunami to reach the coast is a trough, rather
than a wave crest, the water along the shoreline is
dragged back dramatically, exposing parts of the shore
that are normally underwater and stranding many
marine creatures.
WHAT TO DO BEFORE, DURING,
AND AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE
 Before an Earthquake

1. Engage yourself in training activities that promote

safety and disaster preparedness.
2. Participate in government-initiated earthquake drills
and evacuation drills.
3. Some private companies provide training on
emergency response skills. Participate.
4. Share your acquired knowledge and skills to your
family and friends.
 During an Eearthquake

1. Stay indoors if you are within a structurally sound

building or home.
2. If you feel the building were not safe, quickly open
the door for exit.
3. If you are caught inside a room or building, duck
under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on to it, or
protect your head with your hands or arms.
4. Stay away from glass windows, shelves, cabinets, and
other heavy objects.
5. Beware of falling objects. Be alert and keep your
eyes open.
6. Those who are in a moving vehicle should stop and
get out. Do not attempt to cross bridges,
overpasses, or flyovers which may have been
damaged.
7. Meanwhile,, those who are outside should move to
an open area, and follow these safety measures
(PHIVOLCS):
▪Stay away from trees, power lines, posts, and concrete
structures.
▪Move away from steep slopes which may be affected
by landslides.
▪If near the shore and feeling an earthquake, especially
a strong one, quickly move to a higher grounds in
anticipation of possible tsunamis.
 After an Earthquake

Immediately after an earthquake:

1. Take the fastest and safest way out of the building.
2. Do not use elevators.
3. Do not enter damaged buildings.
4. Do not use telephones unless necessary.
5. Mot of all, do not panic.
DIFFERENT EARTHQUAKE
HAZARD MAPS
• A Seismic Design Categories will help us in interpreting
an earthquake map.
SDC Map Earthquake Hazard Potential effects of Shaking
Color
A White Very small probability of experiencing
damaging earthquake effects
Moderate shaking. Felt by all, many frightened.
B Gray Could experience shaking of moderate Some heavy furniture moved; a few instances of
intensity fallen plaster. Damage slight.
Strong shaking. Damage negligible in buildings of
C Yellow Could experience strong shaking. good design and construction; slight to moderate
in well-built ordinary structures; considerable
damage in poorly built structures.
SDC Map Color Earthquake Hazard Potential effects of Shaking

D0 Light Brown
Could experience very strong Very strong shaking-Damage slight in specially
shaking (the darker the color, the designed structures; considerable damage in
D1 Darker Brown
stronger the shaking) ordinary substantial buildings with partial collapse.
D2 Darkest Brown Damage great in poorly built structures.

• Strongest shaking-Damage considerable in

E Red Near major active faults capable of
producing the most intense shaking.
specially designed structures; frame structures
thrown out of plumb.
• Damage great in substantial buildings with
partial collapse.
• Buildings shifted off foundations.
• Shaking intense enough to completely destroy
buildings.
PHIVOLCS EARTHQUAKE INTENSITY SCALE (PEIS)
Performance Task #2

• Research on the different Hazard Maps of the

Philippines. Learn to interpret each map by giving
attention to the color codes and scalar system
applied.
1. Natural Hazard Risks Map
2. Earthquake-induced Landslide Susceptibility Map
3. Seismic Hazard and Structures in the Philippines
4. Floods and Landslides Hazard Map
5. Ground Shaking Hazard Map

Criteria: Clarity of the report (content) -- 10 pts

Creativity ……………………….. 10 pts
Cooperation ……………………. 10 pts
30 pts