M4.7 Earthquake 103 km SW of Basco, Philippines — January 31, 2021
2021-01-31 22:54:19 UTC (2021-01-31) · approx. 6:54 AM UTC+8 local
On January 31, 2021 at 22:54 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 103 km SW of Basco, Philippines, at a depth of 46.7 km and coordinates 19.7529°, 121.3159°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Philippines, a region characterized by the Manila Trench and Philippine Trench subduction systems, where the Philippine Sea Plate overrides the Eurasian Plate. The nearest mapped fault system is the Philippine Fault. View all earthquakes in Philippines.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
121.3159°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Basco, Philippines?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 103 km SW of Basco, Philippines on January 31, 2021 at 22:54 UTC had a depth of 46.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 19.7529°, 121.3159°, which is 103 km SW of Basco, Philippines. View all earthquakes in Philippines.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Philippines had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Philippines was the M8.0 Mindanao earthquake of August 17, 1976. Today's magnitude 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000dev5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, January 31, 2021). M4.7 Earthquake 103 km SW of Basco, Philippines — January 31, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000dev5/