February 27, 1922 Earthquake: Cebu Island, Mactan Island, Philippines

Ref #414:

1922, February 28, 4:41 [local time], 10.2 N 124.1 E, magnitude 6.25. There was an earthquake on Cebu Island. It was the strongest (or one of the strongest) since the island had been discovered by Europeans. It began suddenly, without perceptible preliminary shocks. It was accompanied by a "noisy roar" which, according to eyewitnesses, was like the roar of heavily loaded moving trucks or of a hundred horses galloping over a large wooden stage.

The intensity was 6-7 degrees (VII-VI11 Rossi-Forel). The zone of damage extended 40 km to the north-north-east direction and included Mactan Island, Cebu City and the central part of Cebu Island to the north of Cebu. On Mactan Island and north of Cebu, cracks appeared in the alluvial soils and on the steep calcareous shores and hillsides, and also in the cement floors of the buildings here. The cracking of the ground frightened the population, who feared an explosion of the volcano. The tile roofs which are widely used on Cebu Island were damaged; three of them partially collapsed, including the very old, steep roof of a monastery. Damage was also recorded where drainage pipes, wooden and cement staircases met walls and the ground. Hairline cracks appeared in the walls themselves of buildings; only old homes, as a rule built of coral lime - stone blocks, were damaged. In addition, at Cebu, two very old walls standing alone fell on the huts, made of leaves, sheltered by the walls, killing five people. None of the concrete buildings, made out of good lime mortar, suffered any damage. Old, but well repaired houses, were also unharmed. No collapses or slumps were recorded in the coal mine near Cebu.

The earthquake was strong on the Camotes Islands and on the western coast of Leyte Island. It was felt on the islands of Leyte, Samar, Bohol, Negros, and on the east of Panay Island. The tremors were barely noticeable on Burias Island. The large axis of the area of perceptibility extended to the north-north-east and had a length of about 400 km. The earthquake was accompanied by recurrent shocks, the force of which occasionally reached 4-5 degrees.

Unusual movements of the sea were noticed after the earthquake in the passage between Cebu and Mactan Islands and around the northern tip of Cebu Island. The underwater cable, running from the northern tip of Cebu Island to Masbate Island, as well as the cable connecting Masbate and Burias Islands, was cut on the same day, The exact time of the breakage of the cables is unknown.

[27.II; 20h39m50S; 10.2 N, 124.1 E; M=6.25.]

Ref #1187:

1922, February 28, 9:14 a.m. (Origin far from Cebu): Cebu Island - Intensity IV-V. Origin of the two above shocks lay under the sea, which separates Cebu and Leyte. The region is composed of tertiary sedimentary rocks and probably the shock originated in some movement within the trough or syncline, rather than in an old structural fault. Very strong shock with damage to buildings; death of five persons.

Ref #1058:

1922 February 27, intensity VIII. Cebu and Mactan Islands, destructive, five victims.

Ref #10958:

The date for this earthquake is given by SEASEE (1985) as January 28, 1922 while other authors such as Iida et al (1967) and Berninghausen (1969) gave its date as February 27, 1922. It occurred at 4:41 AM and was reported as a strong quake within the areas of Cebu, eastern Panay, western Leyte, Bohol and Negros Island. In Cebu, old structures, usually made of coral limestone, were damaged. In the centre of the city and another in the suburb of St. Nicolas, the shaking also caused the collapse of two very old walls which are remnants of ruined buildings and not connected to other structures. Most tile roofs, which were common in Cebu at this time, suffered more severely […] Unusual sea waves were observed after the quake along the passage between Cebu and Mactan island