2019 Batanes earthquake

{{Infobox earthquake

| name = 2019 Batanes earthquake

| image =Itbayat Church 2019 earthquake.jpg

| alt =

| caption = The Itbayat Church after the earthquakes

| map2 = {{Location map | Philippines Batanes#Luzon#Philippines

| relief=1

| label =

| lat=20.837

| long=121.974

| mark = Bullseye1.png

| marksize = 50

| position = bottom

| width = 260

| float = none

| caption = }}

| local-date = 27 July 2019

| local-time = 07:38 PST (Philippine Standard Time)

| timestamp = 2019-07-26 23:38

| map =

| map_alt =

| map_caption =

| pushpin_map =

| anss-url = us60004w8x

| isc-event = 616091865

| location = {{coord|20.807|121.986|display=title, inline}}

| duration =

| magnitude = 6.0 {{M|w|link=y}}

| depth = {{convert|43|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}

| type = Strike-slip

| affected = Batanes, Philippines

| intensity = {{PEIS|7}}

{{MMI|6}}

| pga =

| pgv =

| tsunami = No

| landslide =

| foreshocks = {{M|w}} 5.4

| aftershocks =

| casualties = 9 dead, 60 injured

| engvar =

| citations =

}}

The 2019 Batanes earthquake was a magnitude 6.0 earthquake which struck Batanes, Philippines on July 27, 2019. It was preceded by a 5.4 magnitude foreshock. Nine people were killed by the combined effects of the earthquakes.

Earthquake

The main shock of the earthquake was the 6.0 magnitude earthquake which had a depth of focus of {{convert|43|km|mi|sp=us}}. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOLCS) earlier recorded the tectonic earthquake as a magnitude 6.4 but later revised their records.{{cite news |title=Magnitude 5.9 quake rocks Batanes |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/27/19/magnitude-6-aftershock-rocks-batanes |accessdate=27 July 2019 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=27 July 2019 |language=English, Filipino}}{{cite news |title=5.9 magnitude quake jolts Batanes |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1146899/breaking-6-2-magnitude-quake-jolts-batanes |accessdate=27 July 2019 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=27 July 2019}} The earthquake occurred at 7:38 a.m. (UTC+8) on July 27, 2019, near Itbayat, Batanes.{{cite news |title=2nd earthquake hits Itbayat, Batanes at magnitude 5.9 |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/science/702553/2nd-earthquake-hits-itbayat-batanes-at-magnitude-6-4/story/ |accessdate=27 July 2019 |work=GMA News |date=27 July 2019}}

A noted foreshock of the earthquake was the magnitude 5.4 earthquake which struck the same town at 4:16 a.m. (UTC+8). It had a depth of focus of {{convert|12|km|mi|sp=us}}{{cite news |title=Magnitude 5.4 earthquake hits Itbayat, Batanes |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/science/702548/magnitude-5-earthquake-hits-itbayat-batanes/story/ |accessdate=27 July 2019 |work=GMA News |date=27 July 2019}}

One of the stronger aftershocks was a magnitude 5.8 earthquake which occurred at 9:24 a.m. (UTC+8).{{cite news |last1=Arayta |first1=Maria Cristina |title=8 dead, 60 hurt in Batanes quake; public warned vs. aftershocks |url=https://ptvnews.ph/8-dead-60-hurt-in-batanes-quake-public-warned-vs-aftershocks/ |accessdate=27 July 2019 |work=PTV News |agency=Philippine News Agency |date=27 July 2019}}

Intensity

According to the PHIVOLCS earthquake intensity scale, the earthquake was most felt in the town of Itbayat, Batanes at Intensity VII while the other towns of the same province reported a lesser intensity; Basco at Intensity V, Sabtang and Ivana at Intensity IV. According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake had a maximum intensity of VI or has caused "Strong" shaking according to the Modified Mercalli intensity scale.{{cite web|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us60004w8x/executive|title=M 5.9 – 14 km E of Itbayat, Philippines|publisher=United States Geological Survey|access-date=2019-07-27}}

class="wikitable" \|+ ! colspan="2" \|Intensity of Magnitude 5.4 Earthquake Event[https://earthquake.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/2019_Earthquake_Information/July/2019_0726_2016_B4F.html EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION NO.4] M 5.4 Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology 27 Jul 2019
Intensity Scale !Location
style="background-color: #ff0;" \|VI \|Itbayat, Batanes
style="background-color: #8ff;" \|IV \|Basco, Ivana & Mahatao, Batanes
style="background-color: #99f;" \|III \|Uyugan & Sabtang, Batanes

class="wikitable"

! colspan="2" |Intensity of Magnitude 5.4 Earthquake Event[https://earthquake.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/2019_Earthquake_Information/July/2019_0726_2016_B4F.html EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION NO.4] M 5.4 Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology 27 Jul 2019

Intensity

Scale

!Location

style="background-color: #ff0;" |VI

|Itbayat, Batanes

style="background-color: #8ff;" |IV

|Basco, Ivana & Mahatao, Batanes

style="background-color: #99f;" |III

|Uyugan & Sabtang, Batanes

class="wikitable" ! colspan="2" \|Intensity of Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake Event[https://earthquake.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/2019_Earthquake_Information/July/2019_0726_2337_B4F.html EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION NO.4] M 5.9 Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology 27 Jul 2019
Intensity Scale !Location
style="background-color: #fd0;" \|VII \|Itbayat, Batanes
style="background-color: #7df894;" \|V \|Basco, Ivana & Mahatao, Batanes
style="background-color: #8ff;" \|IV \|Uyugan & Sabtang, Batanes

class="wikitable"

! colspan="2" |Intensity of Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake Event[https://earthquake.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/2019_Earthquake_Information/July/2019_0726_2337_B4F.html EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION NO.4] M 5.9 Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology 27 Jul 2019

Intensity

Scale

!Location

style="background-color: #fd0;" |VII

|Itbayat, Batanes

style="background-color: #7df894;" |V

|Basco, Ivana & Mahatao, Batanes

style="background-color: #8ff;" |IV

|Uyugan & Sabtang, Batanes

No tsunami warning was raised following the main earthquake.{{cite news |title=Phivolcs: No tsunami threats after 5.9 quake in Batanes |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1146909/phivolcs-no-tsunami-threats-after-6-4-quake-in-batanes |accessdate=27 July 2019 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=27 July 2019}}

Casualties and damage

At least 9 people were killed and 60 injured due to the earthquakes.{{Cite web|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1146879/4-dead-19-hurt-in-batanes-quake|title=UPDATE: 9 dead, 60 injured in Batanes quakes|last1=Alcantara|first1=Nathan|last2=Mercado|first2=Neil Arwin|website=newsinfo.inquirer.net|date=27 July 2019|access-date=2019-07-27}} The historic Santa Maria de Mayan Church in Itbayat, built in 1888, sustained heavy damage from the earthquake with its bell tower falling off. Several stone houses,{{cite news |title=Itbayat church, ancestral homes damaged in Batanes earthquake |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/236411-photos-itbayat-church-damage-batanes-earthquake |accessdate=27 July 2019 |work=Rappler |date=27 July 2019}} two schools, and two health centers were also damaged.{{cite news |last1=Acosta |first1=Rene |last2=Nicolas |first2=Bernadette |title=Duterte visits quake-hit Batanes as residents await additional aid |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/07/29/duterte-visits-quake-hit-batanes-as-residents-await-additional-aid/ |accessdate=29 July 2019 |work=BusinessMirror |date=29 July 2019}}

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), 911 families or 2,963 individuals were affected by the earthquakes. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on their part made an estimate that the damage caused by the earthquake costed at least {{Philippine peso|292 million}}.{{cite news |last1=Lalu |first1=Gabriel Pabico |title=Batanes quake left P292 M infra damage – DPWH |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1148668/batanes-quake-left-p292-m-infra-damage-dpwh |accessdate=3 August 2019 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=1 August 2019}}

Response

President Rodrigo Duterte made a visit to Batanes on July 28, 2019, to personally check the situation in the province. He also made a pledge for the government to release {{Philippine peso|40 million}} for the construction of a new clinic with Duterte citing the uncertainty regarding the integrity of the still functional Itbayat District Hospital which sustained minimal cracks.{{cite news |title=Duterte OKs P40 M for new clinic in quake-hit Batanes |url=http://tempo.com.ph/2019/07/28/duterte-oks-p40-m-for-new-clinic-in-quake-hit-batanes/ |accessdate=28 July 2019 |work=Tempo |date=28 July 2019}} Then-vice president Leni Robredo also visited the island province.{{cite news |last1=Baccay |first1=Oliver |title=VP Robredo visits quake victims in Itbayat |url=https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1025448 |accessdate=3 August 2019 |work=Philippine Information Agency |date=1 August 2019}}

The NDRRMC also provided tents and other relief goods to people displaced due to earthquake via C-130. Other provinces and private organizations also provided aid to Batanes. The agency also shipped construction materials for new houses meant for the victims of the earthquake.{{cite news |last1=Visaya |first1=Villamor Jr. |title=NDRRMC sends construction materials to quake-hit Batanes |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1076644 |accessdate=3 August 2019 |work=Philippine News Agency |date=1 August 2019}}

On August 1, 2019, Batanes was placed under a state of calamity.{{cite news |last1=Baccay |first1=Oliver |title=Batanes placed under state of calamity |url=https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1025452 |accessdate=3 August 2019 |work=Philippine Information Agency |date=1 August 2019}}

China through its embassy in Manila donated {{Philippine peso|10 million}} as aid following the earthquake.{{cite news |last1=Rocamora |first1=Joyce Ann |title=China extends P10-M aid for Batanes |url=https://www.canadianinquirer.net/2019/07/31/china-extends-p10-m-aid-for-batanes/ |accessdate=3 August 2019 |work=Philippine Canadian Inquirer |agency=Philippine News Agency |date=31 July 2019 |archive-date=1 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801142329/https://www.canadianinquirer.net/2019/07/31/china-extends-p10-m-aid-for-batanes/ |url-status=dead }}