2019 Cotabato earthquakes facts for kids

The province of Cotabato in the Philippines was hit by several strong earthquakes in October 2019. These quakes happened on the island of Mindanao. Three of these earthquakes were very powerful, measuring over 6.0 on the magnitude scale. They caused a lot of shaking, reaching an intensity VIII. This means they were strong enough to damage buildings and make it hard to stand.

What Happened?

The first big earthquake happened on October 16. It was a magnitude 6.3 quake. Its epicenter (the point on the Earth's surface directly above where the earthquake started) was near Tulunan. Sadly, at least 7 people died, and 215 others were hurt.

The second strong earthquake struck on October 29. This one was a magnitude 6.6. Its epicenter was near Bual, which is northeast of where the October 16 quake hit.

Just two days later, on October 31, a third major earthquake occurred. It measured magnitude 6.5 and its epicenter was also near Tulunan. Experts believe this quake was not just an aftershock of the October 29 event. After these two later quakes, 22 more people died, and 424 others were injured.

Images for kids

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  This map shows the earthquakes in Cotabato in October 2019. The biggest ones are highlighted. It also shows the main active faults in the area.

See also

In Spanish: Terremotos de Cotabato de 2019 para niños