M4.8 Earthquake 152 km W of Basco, Philippines — May 28, 2021
2021-05-28 14:44:00 UTC (2021-05-28) · approx. 10:44 PM UTC+8 local
On May 28, 2021 at 14:44 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 152 km W of Basco, Philippines, at a depth of 18.1 km and coordinates 20.3277°, 120.5192°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 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
120.5192°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Basco, Philippines?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 152 km W of Basco, Philippines on May 28, 2021 at 14:44 UTC had a depth of 18.1 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 20.3277°, 120.5192°, which is 152 km W of Basco, Philippines. View all earthquakes in Philippines.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000efhg). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, May 28, 2021). M4.8 Earthquake 152 km W of Basco, Philippines — May 28, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000efhg/