2010 Mindanao earthquakes
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Mindanao earthquakes were a series of powerful earthquakes, but located far too deep to pose a serious threat. They occurred in the Southern Philippines
in the Moro Gulf. The earthquakes with magnitudes above M6.4 are:
These earthquakes occurred in Moro Gulf
, off the Mindanao
Island. The Mw 7.6 earthquake could be felt in Philippines, Taiwan
, and Malaysia. The Mw 7.4 earthquake could be felt in Philippines, Brunei
, Malaysia, and Indonesia
. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said that these earthquakes were caused by the subduction of the Molucca Sea Plate
.
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...
in the Moro Gulf. The earthquakes with magnitudes above M6.4 are:
| Date | Local Time (UTC +8) |
Magnitude (Mw) |
Latitude | Longitude | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 23, 2010 | 06:08 | 7.3 | 6.699°N | 123.475°E | 612.2 km |
| July 23, 2010 | 06:51 | 7.6 | 6.470°N | 123.532°E | 583.8 km |
| July 23, 2010 | 07:15 | 7.4 | 6.749°N | 123.268°E | 616.7 km |
| July 24, 2010 | 05:31 | 6.5 | 6.226°N | 123.522°E | 555.3 km |
These earthquakes occurred in Moro Gulf
Moro Gulf
The Moro Gulf is a sea in Mindanao in the Philippines. It is part of Celebes Sea and is surrounded by the Zamboanga Peninsula and the central part of Mindanao. Sibuguey Bay and Illana Bay are its major branches. Zamboanga City is the most important port city on its coast...
, off the Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
Island. The Mw 7.6 earthquake could be felt in Philippines, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, and Malaysia. The Mw 7.4 earthquake could be felt in Philippines, Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
, Malaysia, and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said that these earthquakes were caused by the subduction of the Molucca Sea Plate
Molucca Sea Plate
-Earlier theory:The Molucca Sea Plate was theorised to be a small tectonic plate carrying northern Sulawesi, the Molucca Sea and a portion of the Banda Sea in a region littered with numerous small plates. The theory suggested a subduction zone lies along its northern border with the Sunda Plate...
.