4.4

M4.4 Earthquake 19 km NE of Santa Cruz, PhilippinesDecember 28, 2021

2021-12-28 20:59:34 UTC (2021-12-28) · approx. 4:59 AM UTC+8 local

MagnitudeM4.4(mb)
Time20:59 UTC4:59 AM UTC+8
Depth85.8 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates13.173°, 120.869°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 28, 2021 at 20:59 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 intermediate depth earthquake struck 19 km NE of Santa Cruz, Philippines, at a depth of 85.8 km and coordinates 13.1727°, 120.8689°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 13.17°, 120.87°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.4 mb
Depth
85.8 km
intermediate depth
Location
13.1727°N
120.8689°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000gfxs
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
298
Azimuthal Gap
105.0°
Min Station Distance
8.281°
RMS Residual
1.04 sec
Last Updated
2022-03-05 23:10:49 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Santa Cruz, Philippines?

The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 19 km NE of Santa Cruz, Philippines on December 28, 2021 at 20:59 UTC had a depth of 85.8 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000gfxs). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, December 28, 2021). M4.4 Earthquake 19 km NE of Santa Cruz, PhilippinesDecember 28, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000gfxs/