Significant earthquakes of 1983

August 17, 1983 Earthquake: Luzon, Philippines

August 17, 1983 · M6.5 · 16 deaths · $2.2 million

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Luzon, Philippines on August 17, 1983 at 12:17:56 UTC, 29 km below the surface. It killed 16 people, counting the tsunami it caused.

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
August 17, 1983
Time
12:17:56 UTC
Place
Luzon, Philippines
Magnitude
6.5 (Ms)
Focal depth
29 km (18 mi)
Intensity
8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Epicenter
18.231° N, 120.860° E

The toll

Deaths
16
Injuries
47; 471 with its tsunami and other effects
Damage
$2.2 million
Houses destroyed
Many (101 to 1,000)
Houses damaged
Many (101 to 1,000)

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.

The most severe earthquake experienced in northwestern Luzon in 52 years and probably the largest earthquake event to hit Laoag and its immediate vicinity in historical times, occurred shortly after eight o'clock in the evening of the 17th of August 1983. The tremor was perceptible over a distance of 400 km from its origin. in the aftermath, when the last quivering of the ground was felt, several ives and millions of pesos in property were found to have been lost. (reference #1187)

Sixteen people killed, 47 injured and extensive damage in the Pasquin-Laoag-Batac and Serrat areas. Sandblows, liquefaction, cracks on some highways, and many landslides occurred in the area. Felt (III RF) at Manila. Unconfirmed reports of a small tsunami along the coast of Ilocos Norte Province. (Reference #1053)

Reference #1250 lists 19 deaths, $2.227 million dollars damage.

Reference #1232 lists 16 deaths.

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1983The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1983Recent 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 4987.