November 17, 1988 Earthquake: Catarman, Catbalogan, Samar, Philippines
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Catarman, Catbalogan, Samar, Philippines on November 17, 1988 at 06:55:46 UTC, 19 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
- November 17, 1988
- Time
- 06:55:46 UTC
- Place
- Catarman, Catbalogan, Samar, Philippines
- Magnitude
- 6.6 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 19 km (12 mi)
- Intensity
- 6 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 12.399° N, 124.537° E
- Country
- Philippines
The toll
- Injuries
- 29
- 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.
1988, Nov 17. Twenty nine people injured and damage (VI RF) at Catarman. Felt (V RF) at Catbalogan and (IV RF) in southeastern Luzon and on Masbate. Two events about 3 seconds apart. (reference #1053)
1988, Nov 17. 6.6 MW (reference #991)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- September 30, 2025, Cebu, Central Visayas, Philippines
- March 22, 1840, Sorsogon,masbate Is,casiguran,albay, Philippines
- July 2, 1954, Sorsogon, Bacon, Legaspi, Luzon, Philippines
- July 6, 2017, Leyte, Philippines
- August 18, 2020, Masbate, Philippines
- August 22, 2017, Ormoc, Leyte, Philippines
- November 18, 2003, Can-Avid, Samar, Philippines
- October 31, 1975, Philippines
- February 15, 2003, Masbate, Dimasalang, Philippines
- August 15, 2008, Legaspi, Luzon, Philippines
- November 8, 1912, Sorsogon, Philippines
- February 15, 2003, Dimasalang, Luzon, Philippines
- May 13, 1897, Masbate Island, Philippines
- July 12, 1931, Masbate, Philippines
- November 13, 1925, Samar I, Laoang I, Batag I, Philippines
More
Significant earthquakes of 1988The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1988Recent 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 5181.