M5.0 Earthquake 120 km SSE of Sarangani, Philippines — January 15, 2024
2024-01-15 14:04:35 UTC (2024-01-15) · approx. 10:04 PM UTC+8 local
Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.
On January 15, 2024 at 14:04 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck 120 km SSE of Sarangani, Philippines, at a depth of 88.8 km and coordinates 4.3428°, 125.7007°. This earthquake was detected by 57 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred 21 days ago 96 km S of Sarangani, Philippines. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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
125.7007°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Sarangani, Philippines?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 120 km SSE of Sarangani, Philippines on January 15, 2024 at 14:04 UTC had a depth of 88.8 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 4.3428°, 125.7007°, which is 120 km SSE of Sarangani, Philippines. View all earthquakes in Philippines.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 96 km S of Sarangani, Philippines. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000m3sf). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, January 15, 2024). M5.0 Earthquake 120 km SSE of Sarangani, Philippines — January 15, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000m3sf/