Vulnerabilities:
Magnitude and Location: The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.0 and its epicenter was located near
Tayum, Abra. It was felt with a maximum ground shaking intensity of PEIS VII (Destructive), equivalent to
Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) VII, in Abra and along the coastal areas of Ilocos Sur2.
Infrastructure Damage: The earthquake caused widespread infrastructure damage in at least four
provinces over an area of 10,000 square kilometers (about 3,800 square miles).
Geological Impacts: More than a thousand landslides, rockfalls and tension cracks were mapped, near
the epicentral region, in the northwestern part of the Central Cordillera. Liquefaction manifested as
lateral spreads, sand boils, fissures, ground subsidence, and localized swelling was documented along
the coastal areas of Ilocos Sur and river channels in Abra and Ilocos Sur.
Public Safety: The public was advised to be cautious of structures visibly weakened or partially collapsed
by the earthquake as continuing aftershocks may cause further damage.
Exposed elements hit
Landslides: landslides were mapped near the epicentral region, mostly along road cuts and steep slopes.
These landslides blocked roads, damaged houses and infrastructures, and posed threats to people's
lives.
Liquefaction: Liquefaction manifested as lateral spreads, sand boils, fissures, ground subsidence, and
localized swelling was documented along the coastal areas of Ilocos Sur and river channels in Abra and
Ilocos Sur. These liquefaction phenomena caused damages to buildings, roads, bridges, irrigation canals,
and agricultural lands.
Sea level disturbance: Sea level disturbance was also observed in some coastal areas of Ilocos Sur and La
Union. The sea level rose up to 0.5 meters above normal tide level, causing flooding and erosion in some
low-lying areas.
Structural damages: Damages to buildings and infrastructures were documented in areas that
experienced PEIS VI (Very strong) and PEIS VII (Destructive). Most of the heavy structural damages were
sustained in Abra and Ilocos Sur. Poor engineering and the use of substandard construction materials
were the major contributing factors to the damages.
Expert testimony
Renato Solidum, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs),
clarified that despite the quake’s magnitude and impact, it did not pose a tsunami threat because the
fault ran through land.
The earthquake exposed several vulnerabilities in the region’s infrastructure. More than 21,000 people
were impacted by the quake, which caused about ₱39 billion of infrastructure damage. Infrastructure
was damaged across northern Luzon, including more than 400 homes, dozens of schools, several
hospitals and bridges. The centuries-old Vigan Cathedral and Banta Bell Tower were also affected.
The quake triggered landslides, with photos showing large boulders and rocks tumbling onto a road in
the town of Bauko, south of the epicenter. Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. reported that 58
landslides had been reported, and more than 200 towns in 15 provinces were affected by the quake.
The Northwestern Luzon earthquake served as a stark reminder of the region’s seismic vulnerability. The
testimonies from experts like Renato Solidum provided valuable insights into the event’s causes and
potential aftershocks. However, the extensive damage to infrastructure highlighted the need for
improved disaster preparedness and resilience in the face of such natural disasters.
