Monday 30 September 2019

Magnitude 6.4 Earthquake to the southeast of Mindanao Island, the Philippines.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded a Magnitude 6.4 Earthquake at a depth of 63 km about 80 km off the southeast coast of Mindanao Island, Philippines, slightly 3.00 pm local time(slightly after 2.00 am GMT) on Sunday 29 September 2019. There are no reports of any damage or casualties associated with the event, but it was felt across the southern Philippines and central Indonesia.

 The approximate location of the 29 September 2019 Mindanao Earthquake. USGS.

The geology of the central Philippines is Complex. The west of Mindanao Island is located on the Banda (or Sunda) Microplate, and the east on the Philippine Plate, which is being subducted beneath the Sunda (or Banda) Microplate along the central part of the island. Immediately to the east of the Island the Pacific Plate is being subducted along the Philippine Trench, and passes beneath eastern Mindanao as it sinks into the Earth. This is not a smooth process, an the plates constantly stick together then break apart again as the pressure builds up, resulting in Earthquakes.

 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...

https://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2019/06/magnitude-62-earthquake-to-southeast-of.htmlhttps://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2018/12/magnitude-70-earthquake-to-southeast-of.html

https://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2018/02/landslides-and-flooding-kill-five-as.htmlhttps://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2018/01/landslides-kill-six-in-philippines.html
https://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2017/12/flash-flood-destroys-village-on.htmlhttps://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2017/05/magnitude-69-earthquake-off-south-coast.html
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