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 1 earthquake, the largest an M4.8 (23 km N of Santa Monica, Philippines).
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.8 | Jul 29, 00:39 UTC | 54 km | 23 km N of Santa Monica, Philippines |
| M5.3 | Jul 27, 23:06 UTC | 71 km | 23 km E of Kinablangan, Philippines |
| M4.9 | Jul 22, 09:47 UTC | 64 km | 11 km NW of Sugal, Philippines |
Notable recent activity
A moderate M5.3 earthquake struck 23 km E of Kinablangan, Philippines at 23:06 UTC on Jul 27 at a depth of 71 km.
An M4.9 earthquake struck 11 km NW of Sugal, Philippines at 09:47 UTC on Jul 22 at a depth of 64 km.
An M4.8 earthquake struck 23 km N of Santa Monica, Philippines at 00:39 UTC on Jul 29 at a depth of 54 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.