1968 Casiguran earthquake

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Epicenter of the earthquake located at Casiguran, Aurora (once part of Quezon province)

1968 Casiguran earthquake occurred on August 2, 1968 with a 7.3 Richter scale magnitude. More than 270 people died and 261 were injured. The epicenter was located in Casiguran, Quezon (now part of Aurora province). This was the most destructive earthquake in the Philippines during the 20 years before the 1990 Luzon earthquake. In addition, the earthquake generated a tsunami that reached as far as Japan.

The hardest hit was the densely populated city of Manila killing 268 people and 261 more were injured. Majority of the buildings that suffered severe damages lies near at the mouth of Pasig River with huge alluvial deposits. Some of them were damaged beyond repair and others only suffered cosmetic damages. 260 people died when a 6-storey building Ruby Tower collapsed in the district of Binondo. Majority of the building collapsed except for a portion of the first and second floors at the northern end of the building. There was an allegation that the building was poorly built and used low-grade materials.^[1] In District of Santa Ana, one person was injured from a damaged apartment building.

Two more people were killed from Aurora sub province and Pampanga. Around the town of Casiguran, there were several reports of landslides and the worst one happened near at Casiguran Bay.