October 20, 1897 Earthquake: Northern Samar, Philippines
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Northern Samar, Philippines on October 20, 1897 at 14:24 UTC, 33 km below the surface.
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 20, 1897
- Time
- 14:24 UTC
- Place
- Northern Samar, Philippines
- Magnitude
- 7.9 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 33 km (21 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 12.000° N, 126.000° E
- Country
- Philippines
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this earthquake.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1897, Oct 20, 14:24 UTC, 12 N, 126 E, shallow depth, magnitude 7.9. (reference #88)
1897, Oct 20, 14:24 UTC, 12 N, 126 E, shallow depth, magnitude 7.9. (reference #1006)
1897, Oct 20, magnitude 7.9, at Samar. (reference #1002)
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 19, 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 2529.