1645 Luzon earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 1645 Luzon earthquake was one of the most destructive earthquake
s 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.
Aftershock
s 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.
was not less than 490 kilometres (304.5 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.
and other churches in the capital, public buildings and residential villas. 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.
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s to hit the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. It occurred on a Monday, November 30, 1645 at about 08:00 PM local time on Luzon Island
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
in the northern part of the country. The island was struck by a 7.5 Ms (surface wave magnitude
Surface wave magnitude
The surface wave magnitude scale is one of the magnitude scales used in seismology to describe the size of an earthquake. It is based on measurements in Rayleigh surface waves that travel primarily along the uppermost layers of the earth...
) tremor produced by the San Manuel and Gabaldon Faults (Nueva Ecija
Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija
Gabaldon is a 4th class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 29,619 people in 6,038 households....
) in the central section of the island.
Aftershock
Aftershock
An aftershock is a smaller earthquake that occurs after a previous large earthquake, in the same area of the main shock. If an aftershock is larger than the main shock, the aftershock is redesignated as the main shock and the original main shock is redesignated as a foreshock...
s 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.
Extent
Its meizoseismal areaMeizoseismal area
The meizoseismal area in an earthquake is the area of maximum damage. For example, in the Charleston, South Carolina, earthquake of 1886, the meizoseismal area was an area about twenty by thirty miles stretching northeast between Charleston and Jedburg and incorporating Summerville. The estimated...
was not less than 490 kilometres (304.5 mi) from north to south, that is, from the southern coast of Batangas
Batangas
Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the...
and Quezon
Quezon
-History:Originally, what now forms Quezon was divided among the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija. The area was first explored by Juan de Salcedo in 1571-1572, during his expedition from Laguna to Camarines provinces....
provinces
Provinces of the Philippines
The Provinces of the Philippines are the primary political and administrative divisions of the Philippines. There are 80 provinces at present, further subdivided into component cities and municipalities. The National Capital Region, as well as independent cities, are autonomous from any provincial...
to Cagayan
Cagayan
Cagayan , the "Land of Smiling Beauty", is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Tuguegarao City and is located at the northeastern corner of the island of Luzon. Cagayan also includes the Babuyan Islands to the north. The province borders Ilocos Norte...
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
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
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
Lal-Lo, Cagayan
Lal-lo is now a 1st class municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 39,607people in 7,443 households....
in the Cagayan Valley
Cagayan Valley
Cagayan Valley is a region of the Philippines, also designated as Region II or Region 02. It is composed of five provinces, namely: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino...
where large fissures opened in the earth and many large landslides occurred in the hills.
Manila
In Manila, damage was entirely severe almost all the city laid in ruins. It ruined the Manila CathedralManila Cathedral
Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is also known as Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception or Basilica Minore dela Inmaculada Concepcion or Basilica Minore dela Nuestra Señora de Inmaculada Concepcion A Roman Catholic church having a higher status of "Minor Basilica" with...
and other churches in the capital, public buildings and residential villas. 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.