2002 Mindanao earthquake
| UTC time | 2002-03-05 21:16:09 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 2904823 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | March 6, 2002 |
| Local time | 05:16:09 PST (UTC+8:00) |
| Magnitude | Mw 7.5 |
| Depth | 31 km (19 mi) |
| Epicenter | 6°01′59″N 124°14′56″E / 6.033°N 124.249°E |
| Fault | Cotabato Trench |
| Type | Oblique-reverse |
| Areas affected | Mindanao, Philippines |
| Max. intensity | PEIS IX (MMI IX) |
| Tsunami | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| Foreshocks | mb 4.4 and mb 4.3 on 01/13/2002 |
| Aftershocks | 359+ (14 felt, as of March 15, 2002) Strongest: Mwb 6.0 on March 8 |
| Casualties | 15 fatalities, 100 injuries |
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The 2002 Mindanao earthquake struck the Philippines at 05:16:09 Philippine Standard Time on March 6 (21:16 UTC 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 flooding generated by landslides near Mount Parker and falling debris. Like the 1918 event, a tsunami soon followed.