1990 Panay earthquake

The 1990 Panay earthquake occurred at 3:41 p.m. local time on 14 June 1990 on the island of Panay in Visayas, Philippines. With a measured magnitude of 7.1 on the Richter scale, the earthquake left eight dead, 41 injured, and an estimated damage of ₱30 million.^[2]

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the epicenter was located in the vicinity of Culasi, Antique, on Panay Island. The earthquake had a depth of 15 km (9.3 mi) and was produced in the collisional zone off the western side of Panay Island by a fault movement.^[2] However, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the epicenter to be in Union, Libertad, Antique, and the depth of focus of the earthquake at 18.1 km (11.2 mi), deeper than what was recorded by PHIVOLCS.^[1] The shaking was felt strongly across Western Visayas, while weak to moderate tremor was experienced in other parts of the Visayas, as well as in portions of Southern Luzon and Northern Mindanao.^[2]

In Culasi, the majority of casualties were reported. A total of seven people were killed, while 31 others were injured. Several residential and commercial buildings collapsed and were damaged, along with four bridges. Fissures were recorded in two barangays as well as an upliftment in Bagacay. Landslides also occurred along the slopes of Mt. Madya-as.^[2]

Aklan sustained the most widespread structural and infrastructural damage among affected provinces. Numerous residential buildings, public facilities, churches, and bridges were damaged across several municipalities.

In Libacao, five concrete residential buildings were totally destroyed, while 30 others sustained partial damage. Two churches and a river control project were heavily damaged, and five highway bridges suffered partial damage.^[2]

Severe damage was also reported in Balete, where the Baptist church and public market were heavily damaged, and a religious icon was toppled. The rural health center and a rice mill collapsed, while the district hospital was declared unsafe for future use. Additional damage included partial destruction to another public market and to bridge approaches. One residential house collapsed completely, and ten others were partially damaged. A ground fissure was also observed along a river.^[2]

In Madalag, both the municipal and district hospital buildings sustained cracks.^[2] In the provincial capital, Kalibo, damage was generally minor. The Aklan Science High School and a local cinema were partially damaged, while cracks were observed in the walls of the Catholic church. A ceramic house also sustained partial damage.^[2]

Elsewhere, a sand boil was observed in Numancia, indicating ground liquefaction.^[2] In Altavas, the wharf was partially damaged, while cracks were reported on the walls of the local cathedral and a religious icon was damaged.^[2] In Makato, the sports complex sustained partial damage, and the posts and beams of the public market were affected.^[2]

Damage in Iloilo was relatively limited and localized. In Calinog, several buildings of the Philippine Constabulary Regional Command sustained damage, while the local Catholic church was partially damaged.^[2]

In Capiz, moderate damage was reported in a few communities. In Cuartero, a church and several houses sustained partial damage.^[2] Meanwhile, in Sigma, a bridge and a communication tower were also partially damaged.^[2]

• List of earthquakes in 1990
• List of earthquakes in the Philippines
• 1990 Bohol and 1990 Luzon earthquakes – two notable earthquakes in the Philippines the same year
• 1948 Lady Caycay earthquake – a major historical earthquake in the same province