The 1880 Southern Luzon earthquakes, were one of the most destructive tremors on record in the history of the country. The shocks continued, with greater or less interruption, from July 14–25, 1880; highlighted by three violent quakes measuring 7.0, 7.6, and 7.2 respectively. The sequence destroyed churches and other buildings, producing loss of life. Coinciding with the tectonic activity was an increase in volcanic activity in the Taal Volcano of southwestern Luzon. The provinces of Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna, Pampanga, and Nueva Ecija were the chief victims from the convulsions, with Manila and Laguna receiving the full brunt of the quakes. In many places, buildings were converted into shapeless heaps of ruins, and the materials of their prosperity buried beneath the rubbish. Chronology of events Initial vibrations The vibrations began during the months of April and May, in the northern provinces of Luzon. The center of oscillation, as indicated by the directions registered at Manila, appears to coincide with a volcano, which has been long extinct, situated between Lepanto (now part of Kalinga) and Abra provinces, in the Central Cordillera of Luzon, in latitude 16° 22' N and longitude 127° E, according to the Spanish Observatory of San Fernando. At first the movements were weak and little frequent, but in the month of June they became quite intense, and extended from north to south over a large zone. This direction never changed; and the few discordances recorded appear to have been a result of haste or want of care in the method of taking the observations, exactness being hardly attainable without special instruments for the purpose. Taal Volcano was observed to start showing increase in activity from the 8th of June and sometimes at night the crater is covered with glare. Early in July some vibrations were felt, but from the 5th to the 14th none were recorded at Manila or any point on the island. On the July 14 at 12:53 p.m., as a storm from the northeast of Luzon was threatening as indicated by an extraordinary fall of the barometer, the first shock occurred. After this first tremor, there were two more shocks at the end of an hour and a half. On the 15th and 16th no perceptible shocks occurred; and on the 17th, only two small shocks. July 18, Sunday On the 18th at 12:40 p.m., occurred the first great shock described as one of oscillation,