Activity 20 | Remembering the 1990 Luzon Earthquake

THE 1990 LUZON EARTHQUAKE

1. Why is the Philippines considered as the third most disaster-prone country in the world?

-  It is because the Philippines is geographically located along the Pacific region near the Equator which is prone to tropical cyclones and storms. If you look at the globe or a map, you'll see our big neighbor which lies next to us – the biggest ocean in the world, the Pacific Ocean or the Ring of Fire. This is due to its location along the Ring of Fire, or typhoon belt – a large Pacific Ocean region where many of Earth's volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. After Pacific countries Tonga and Vanuatu, the Philippines ranks as the third most disaster-prone country in the world because of its high exposure to natural calamities, a new international report showed.

2. What valuable lessons did the 1990 Luzon earthquake leave?

- The 1990 earthquake left not just massive damage and casualties, but also lessons about disaster readiness.Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Officer-in-Charge Renato Solidum said the great earthquake left us with 4 valuable lessons. Number one was , public needs to respond properly during earthquakes. Hazards and their effects should be simulated.  Building codes should be implemented properly, and land use should be carefully planned. Trained search and rescue groups and medical responders are needed. A tragic part of our history, the 1990 Luzon earthquake highlighted the importance of taking into heart the lessons learned. More importantly, we need to do what we can to be aware and proactive about ensuring we are equipped for the potential hazards we may face in light of future natural disasters. 

3. The 1990 Luzon earthquake was the result of a horizontal left lateral strike-slip motion along the Philippine and Digdig Faults. How did this plate movement impact the lives of the Filipino people?

- The earthquake left in its wake about 1,200 casualties and at least P 10 B of damages to buildings, infrastructures, and properties. Part of this damage was due to ground rupturing, although no casualty was reported as a result of this particular hazard. Areas heavily-impacted by the effects of ground rupturing, were Rizal town proper and nearby towns of Laur, Bongabon, and Gabald on to the southeast, and Digdig, Puncan (Carranglan), in Nueva Ecija, and Imugan (Sta. Fe) in Nueva Vizcaya to the northwest. The quake destroyed electric, water and communication lines in the city. In all, it was estimated that the earthquake left a staggering US$369-million worth of damage in its wake.

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