Recent earthquakes in Philippines
The Philippines sits within the Philippine Mobile Belt, squeezed between the subducting Philippine Sea Plate to the east and the Sunda Plate to the west. Trenches on both sides — the Philippine Trench and Manila Trench — plus the Philippine Fault running the length of the archipelago make it highly active. The 1976 Moro Gulf earthquake (M7.9) and its tsunami were among the country's deadliest events. In the past 24 hours, Philippines has recorded no earthquakes above the reporting threshold.
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.7 | Oct 24, 11:48 UTC | 10 km | 72 km S of Basco, Philippines |
| M4.6 | Oct 23, 21:41 UTC | 10 km | 73 km ENE of Kinablangan, Philippines |
| M4.5 | Oct 23, 09:09 UTC | 591 km | 18 km WNW of Bantogon, Philippines |
| M5.2 | Oct 21, 08:37 UTC | 10 km | 68 km NE of Cabatuan, Philippines |
Notable recent activity
A moderate M5.2 earthquake struck 68 km NE of Cabatuan, Philippines at 08:37 UTC on Oct 21 at a depth of 10 km.
An M4.7 earthquake struck 72 km S of Basco, Philippines at 11:48 UTC on Oct 24 at a depth of 10 km.
An M4.6 earthquake struck 73 km ENE of Kinablangan, Philippines at 21:41 UTC on Oct 23 at a depth of 10 km.
Frequently asked questions
How often do earthquakes happen in the Philippines?
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology records thousands of earthquakes a year, though most are too small to be felt. Several damaging events of magnitude 6 or greater occur in a typical decade.
Why does the Philippines have so many earthquakes?
The archipelago is caught between opposing subduction zones — the Philippine Sea Plate descends along the Philippine Trench in the east while oceanic crust subducts along the Manila Trench in the west. The Philippine Fault, a major strike-slip system, cuts through the middle.
What was the biggest earthquake in the Philippines?
The August 16, 1976 magnitude 7.9 Moro Gulf earthquake off Mindanao is among the largest recorded. Its tsunami killed several thousand people. The 1990 magnitude 7.7 Luzon earthquake was another of the country's most destructive.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.