 | |
.svg)  Cotabato Trench | |
| UTC time | 2002-03-05 21:16:09 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 2904823 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | March 6, 2002 |
| Local time | 05:16 PST |
| Magnitude | 7.5 Mw |
| Depth | 31 km |
| Epicenter | 6°01′59″N 124°14′56″E / 6.033°N 124.249°E |
| Areas affected | Philippines |
| Max. intensity | |
| Tsunami | Yes |
| Aftershocks | At least 359 (14 felt) (as of March 15, 2002)[1] |
| Casualties | 15 dead, 100+ injured |
The 2002 Mindanao earthquake struck the Philippines at 05:16 Philippine Standard Time on March 6 (21:16 Coordinated Universal Time on March 5). The world's sixth most powerful earthquake of the year, it registered a magnitude of 7.5 and was a megathrust earthquake. It originated near the Cotabato Trench, a zone of deformation situated between the Philippine Sea Plate and the Sunda Plate, and occurred very near to the Philippines' strongest earthquake for the 20th century, the 1918 Celebes Sea earthquake.
The entire country is characterized by a high level of volcanic and seismic activity. The earthquake was responsible for 15 deaths and roughly 100 injuries. Up to 800 buildings were damaged as a result, many from a flood generated by landslides and falling debris. Like the 1918 event, a tsunami soon followed.
- ^ "Philippines - Earthquake OCHA Situation Report No. 3". ReliefWeb. March 15, 2002.