|
Location of epicenter in the Philippines
|
|
| Date | November 30, 1645 |
|---|---|
| Origin time | 8:00 PM |
| Magnitude | 7.5 Ms |
| Countries or regions | Philippines, Central Luzon |
| Total damage | Unknown |
| Casualties | 600 (?) |
The 1645 Luzon earthquake was one of the most destructive earthquakes to hit the Philippines. It occurred on a Monday, November 30, 1645 at about 08:00 PM local time on Luzon Island in the northern part of the country. The island was struck by a 7.5 Ms (surface wave magnitude) tremor produced by the San Manuel and Gabaldon Faults (Nueva Ecija) in the central section of the island.[1]
Aftershocks continued a few days after the quake then on December 4, 1645, a strong earthquake allegedly equal or stronger than the November 30 shaking hit the same area, causing further death and destruction.[2]
Contents |
Its meizoseismal area was not less than 490 kilometres (300 mi) from north to south, that is, from the southern coast of Batangas and Quezon provinces to Cagayan in the northeasternmost part of the island. On the western coast, it seems to have been of less intensity; at least the chronicles of the time are silent about its effects in these parts. They dealt very much with the destruction caused in Manila and neighboring provinces to the south, east, and north, the tremendous effects produced in the eastern part of the Central Cordillera Mountains, and as far north as in Lal-Lo in the Cagayan Valley where large fissures opened in the earth and many large landslides occurred in the hills.[3][4]
In Manila, damage was entirely severe almost all the city laid in ruins.[4] It ruined the Manila Cathedral and other churches in the capital, public buildings and residential villas.[5] An estimated number of 600 Spanish people were killed, and about 3,000 Spanish were injured. Only the Spaniards, who perished during the earthquake, were counted by the ruling Spanish government, while other persons were disregarded.[6][7]