The Philippines was struck by an earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale Tuesday night, September 10. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred in the Sarangani province of Philippines at 11:32 pm (local time). However, there were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage to properties.  

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Earthquakes in the Philippines

The Philippines is one of the many nations that is situated near the ring of fire, which is a major area in the basin of Pacific Ocean where about 90% of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. A measurable earthquake in the Philippines (greater than Magnitude 2.5) occurs almost every day somewhere, but most people are completely unaware of them. 

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However, in July 2019, Philippines was struck by a series of earthquakes in Batanes province claiming 8 lives with dozens injured and causing damages to homes and structures. The first quake of magnitude 5.4 occurred around 4.15 AM when many people were still asleep. The quake was tectonic in origin, struck east of Itbayat at a depth of 12 kilometres. In less than four hours, another tremor, stronger than before, with magnitude 5.9 occurred 21 kilometres north of Itbayat, Batanes at a depth of 7 kilometres. At 9:24 AM, the third quake of magnitude 5.8 occurred, located 11 kilometres north of Itbayat, Batanes, with a depth of 11 kilometres. Each event was followed by small-magnitude earthquakes. As of 8:00 PM of 27 July 2019, 104 aftershocks have been recorded by the DOST-PHIVOLCS seismic monitoring network.

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Devastating earthquakes of Philippines in the past

The last major earthquake to hit the country was a magnitude 7.1 tremor that killed more than 220 people in the central Philippines in October 2013. It was the strongest earthquake to hit the Philippines in nearly 25 years and occurred on a previously unknown fault line. The earthquake damaged in total 79,217 houses out of which 13,402 were destroyed. 

In July 1990, more than 2,400 people were killed in the northern island of Luzon in a magnitude 7.8 earthquake, one of the strongest tremors ever to hit the country.

Earthquake in Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir also suffered tremors of magnitude 3.8 and 4.9 on Sunday in the Doda and Kishtwar districts of Chenab Valley region, the epicentre of the earthquake was Chamba region of Himachal Pradesh that shares the border with Jammu and Kashmir. Authorities on Monday issued an earthquake advisory, directing all educational institutions and offices to conduct mock drills for the next two days in Doda district. 

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