October 19, 1897 Earthquake: Northern Samar, Philippines
An earthquake struck Northern Samar, Philippines on October 19, 1897 at 07:15 UTC.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- October 19, 1897
- Time
- 07:15 UTC
- Place
- Northern Samar, Philippines
- Intensity
- 8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 12.000° N, 126.000° E
- Country
- Philippines
The toll
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1897, Oct 19, 15:15 local time. Intensity VIII at northern Samar. Most violent earthquake, with results similar to those of the preceding, though less severe. Countless aftershocks continued until the following April, those of October 19, 20, and 21 being the strongest. (reference #1072)
1897, Oct 19, 07:15 UTC, at northern Samar, intensity II which corresponds to buildings may be unroofed or shattered and some may fall, the ground may be badly cracked in places and small landslips occur. (reference #1055)
1897, Oct 19, 15:05 local time. Shock reported felt from Tabaco and Daet. (reference #1187)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- July 6, 2017, Leyte, Philippines
- August 22, 2017, Ormoc, Leyte, Philippines
- October 31, 1975, Philippines
- November 18, 2003, Can-Avid, Samar, Philippines
- August 31, 2012, Cagayan DE Oro, Tacloban, Philippines
- October 18, 1897, Northern Samar, Philippines
- October 20, 1897, Northern Samar, Philippines
- April 21, 1995, Samar, Philippines
- April 21, 1995, Samar, Philippines
- November 13, 1925, Samar I, Laoang I, Batag I, Philippines
- November 17, 1988, Catarman, Catbalogan, Samar, Philippines
- February 7, 1890, Catbalogan,barugo, Samar,leyte, Philippines
More
Significant earthquakes of 1897The 1800sRecent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 2527.