The United States Geological Survey recorded
a Magnitude 5.5 Earthquake at a depth of 34.3 km roughly 37 km offshore of Zambales Province on southwestern
Luzon Island, the Philippines, slightly after 5.45 pm local time (slightly after 9.45 am GMT) on Sunday 17 June 2018. There are no reports of any damage
or injuries associated with this event, though it was felt across much
of the southwestern part of Luzon.
The approximate location of the 17 June 2018 Zambales Earthquake. USGS.
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.
Witness
accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events,
and the structures that cause them. The international non-profit
organisation Earthquake Report is interested in hearing from people who may have felt this event; if you felt this quake then you can report it to Earthquake Report here.
See also...
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