The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake at a depth of 10 km about 37 km off the east coast of Luzon Island in the Philippines, slightly before 9.45 pm local time (slightly before 1.45 pm GMT) on Wednesday 3 September 2014. There are no reports of any damage or injuries associated with this event, though it was felt across much of the southern and central parts of Luzon.
The approximate location of the 3 September 2013 Luzon Earthquake. Google Maps.
The geology of the Philippines is complex, with the majority of the islands located on the east of the Sunda Plate. To the east of this lies the Philippine Sea plate, which is being subducted beneath the Sunda Plate (a breakaway part of the Eurasian Plate); further east, in the Mariana Islands, the Pacific Plate is being subducted beneath the Philippine Sea Plate. This is not a smooth process, and the rocks of the tectonic plates frequently stick together before eventually being broken apart by the rising pressure, leading to Earthquakes in the process.
Subduction beneath the Philippines. Yves Descatoire/Singapore Earth Observatory.
See also...
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has recorded an increase in seismic activity over the past 24 hours (Saturday 28-Sunday 29 June 2014) beneath Mount Mayon, a 2463 m stratovolcano (cone shaped volcano) on southern Luzon Island...
Five people are reported to have been killed in an eruption on Mount Mayon, an active stratovolcano (cone shaped volcano) on Luzon Island in the Philippines. The five, who have been described as four German tourists and a local guide, were part of a group of 20 people who were approaching the summit of the volcano, when they...
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