Soil Liquefaction in Sarangani Peninsula, Philippines Triggered by the 17 November 2023 Magnitude 6.8 Earthquake

The 17 November 2023 MW 6.8 earthquake located offshore of Southern Mindanao, Philippines, triggered soil liquefaction along the lowlands of the Sarangani Peninsula. Detailed mapping, geomorphological interpretations, geophysical surveys, comparison with predictive models, and grain size analysis were conducted to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the earthquake parameters and subsurface conditions that permitted liquefaction. Soil liquefaction manifested as sediment and water vents, fissures, lateral spreads, and ground deformation, mainly along landforms with shallow groundwater levels such as river deltas, fills, floodplains, and beaches. In populated areas, ground failure due to liquefaction also damaged some buildings. All these impacts fall within the boundaries of the available liquefaction hazard maps for Sarangani Peninsula and the predictive empirical equations generated by various authors. Simulated peak ground acceleration values also indicate that sufficient ground shaking was generated for the soil to liquefy. Refraction microtremor (ReMi) surveys reveal shear wave velocities ranging from 121 to 215 m/s, which infer the presence of soft and stiff soils beneath the surface, promoting the sites’ potential to liquefy. Grain size analyses of sediment ejecta confirm the presence of these liquefiable sediments from the subsurface, with grain sizes ranging from silt to medium sand. The results of three-component microtremor (3CMt) surveys also show varying sediment thicknesses, which are consistent with the thickness of soft sediment layers inferred by ReMi surveys. The information resulting from this study may be useful for researchers, planners, and engineers for liquefaction hazard assessment and mitigation, especially in the Sarangani Peninsula.