Negros Island in the Philippines was hit by a 6.7M quake on 2-6-2012 at 03:49 UTC(11:49 AM local time). This area is in the central area of the Philippines archipelago, 353 miles SSE of Manila. According to the USGS, "At least 48 people killed, 92 missing, 100 injured, many buildings damaged or destroyed and at least 11 bridges damaged by the earthquake and earthquake-triggered landslides." Dozens of aftershocks, some as large as 6.2M rocked the area in the days following the quake, bringing fears of further damage to already weakened structures.
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| Many roads were impassable after the quake |
Many homes and businesses were damaged and collapsed. Landslides blocked roads making it difficult to assess the damage and provide aid. Hundreds and volunteers and troops walked into the area because the roads were impassible. Immediate rescue efforts lacked large equipment, relying on bare hands and shovels to clear the rubble and search for victims.
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| The epicenter was on Negros Island, Philipines |
The Philippines is a very active area seismically. Several tectonic plates jostle each other in this area, including the Philippines Plate, Sunda Plate, Pacific Plate and Eurasian Plate. 6.7M is a strong quake but by no means the strongest possible in this area. In 1948 an 8.1M quake hit not far away. See the Plate Tectonics Page for more on the processes involved. The US Geological Survey (USGS) is an invaluable resource in understanding and tracking earthquakes. See the USGS summary of this quake.
See also the following news stories:
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