March 19, 1952 Earthquake: Butuan, Philippines

Reference #414:

1952, March 19, 18:59. There was an earthquake with source to the east of Mindanao Island. The force of tremors was: 5 degrees (VI) at Butuan, 4-5 degrees (V) at Surigao, 4 degrees at Tacloban, Cebu, Cagayan, Dipolog, Davao, 3 degrees at Catbalogan, Dadiangas, Virac, Hunatuan, Borongan and 2 degrees at Iloilo and Malaybalay. The only damage was the cracking of the wall of the city church at Butuan and the falling out of a piece of wall 2-3 m in size, which broke several pews (Minoza et al., no date). A tsunami arose, which was registered as a wave 7 1/2 cm high (1/4 foot) on Yap Island and on Guam, in Apra Harbor and at Tarague. [Gutenberg, Richter (1954): 19.III; 10h57m12s; 9.5 N., 127.25 E.; M=7.75.]

Reference #88:

1952, March 19, 10:57:12 UTC, 9.5 N, 127.3 E, shallow depth, magnitude 7.9 MS.

Reference #130:

1952, March 19, 10:57:12 UTC, 9.5 N, 127.25 E, magnitude 7.75 MS.

Reference #1002:

1952, March 19, magnitude 7.9 MS. Off N. Mindanao.

Reference #1187:

1952, March 19, 9.4 N, 126.1 E. Intensity VII. Butuan Bay: Butuan - Intensity VI. Surigao - Intensity V. Tacloban; Cebu; Caqayan de Oro; Dipolog; Davao City - Intensity IV. Catbalogan; Dadiangas; Virac; Hinatuan; Boronqan - Intensity III. Iloilo City; Malaybalay - Intensity II. At Butuan City, where the intensity was highest, the only known structural damage was cracks produced in one of the walls of the town church. A two- by three-metre section of the wall fell and broke some of the church pews.