List of disasters in the Philippines


This is a list of disasters in the Philippines.

Volcanic eruptions

EventDateNotes
Leonard Kniaseffc.120 AD.There was a scare in 1995 but PHIVOLCS investigation at the time did not disclose any unusual activity, and no unusual activity has been reported since.
San Pablo Volcanic Field1350 AD +/- 100Last activity was the formation of Sampaloc Lake around 1350 AD +/- 100 years determined by anthropology
Taal eruption1572 to 2022Currently on [2020 Taal, Batangas|Taal Volcano eruption|eruption] since January 12, 2020. Eruptions have also destroyed numerous lakeside towns, burying them with volcanic ash or submerged them by rising lake waters displaced by the erupted material. The towns of Lipa, Taal, Sala, Bauan and Tanauan were formerly located along Taal Lake. Presently, only three towns are on the lake's shore. Remnants of the old lakeside towns are reported to be seen under the lake's waters.
Mayon eruption1616 to 2018The most destructive eruption of Mayon occurred on February 1, 1814. Lava flowed but not as much compared to the 1766 eruption; Instead, the volcano was belching dark ash and eventually bombarded the town of Cagsawa with tephra that buried it. Trees were burned; rivers were certainly damaged. Proximate areas were also devastated by the eruption, with ash accumulating to in depth. In Albay, a total of 2,200 locals perished in what is considered to be the most lethal eruption in Mayon's history; estimates by PHIVOLCS list the casualties at about 1,200, however. The eruption is believed to have contributed to the accumulation of atmospheric ash, capped by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815, that led to the Year Without a Summer in 1816.
Pinatubo eruption1500 to 2021Reawakened in 1991 producing the 2nd largest eruption in the 20th century. Followed by milder eruptions in 1992 and 1993.
Mt. Kanlaon eruption1886 to 2024The most active volcano in the Visayas, Kanlaon has erupted 26 times since 1919. Eruptions are typically phreatic explosions of small-to-moderate size that produce minor ash falls near the volcano. In 1902, the eruption was classified as strombolian, typified by the ejection of incandescent cinder, lapilli and lava bombs.
Bulusan eruption1886 to 2022Bulusan is generally known for its sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions. It has erupted 16 times since 1885 and is considered as the 4th most active volcano in the Philippines after Mayon, Taal, and Kanlaon. There are evacuation procedures in place for parts of the peninsula, the farms nearest the volcano are evacuated, and many of the village schools are closed if it is considered possible that a more destructive eruption could occur.
Mt. Hibok-Hibok eruption1827, 1862, 1871 and 1948–1952On February 16, 1871, earthquakes and subterranean rumblings began to be felt in Camiguin, which increased in severity until April 30 when a volcanic fissure opened up 400 yards southwest of the village of Catarman, on the northwest flank of the Hibok-Hibok Volcano. From the opening, lava was continuously ejected and poured into the sea for four years destroying the town. At the same time, the vent started gaining in height and width thus forming Mt. Vulcan. In 1875, the Challenger expedition visited the area, and described the mountain as a dome, about in height, without any crater, but still smoking and incandescent at the top.

Earthquakes

The table below is a tally of the ten most deadly recorded earthquakes in the Philippines since the 1600s:

18th century

  • An intensity VII struck Lake Bombon on September 24, 1716. It was connected with the eruption of Taal volcano; the constant volcanic activity in the area of Taal caused seismic movements.
  • An intensity IX struck Tayabas in 1730. It had ruined the churches and convent in Mauban and several other churches in the province of Tayabas and Laguna.

19th century

Typhoon

RankStormDates of impactDeaths
11881 Haiphong typhoon1881, September 27–October 620,000
2Haiyan/Yolanda 20132013, November 7–86,241
3Thelma (Uring), 19911991, November 2–75,956
4Bopha/Pablo 20122012, December 2–91,901
5Angela Typhoon, 18671867, September 20–261,800
6Winnie 20042004, November 27–301,593
7Fengshen/Frank 20082008, June 18–231,501
8Unidentified typhoon1897, October 7–161,500
9Ike (Nitang), 19841984, August 31–September 41,492
10Durian/Reming 20062006, November 29–December 11,399