M5.3 Earthquake 200 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines — November 15, 2025
2025-11-15 05:33:30 UTC (2025-11-15) · approx. 1:33 PM UTC+8 local
Maximum shaking intensity MMI 4.6 (moderate).
On November 15, 2025 at 05:33 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 200 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 4.0236°, 126.6366°. The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 127 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity. The nearest populated place is Lirung (population 0).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 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
Nearest Populated Places
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 180,186 |
| MMI 4 | light | 97,298 |
| MMI 5 | moderate | 61 |
Earthquake Details
126.6366°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Sarangani, Philippines?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 200 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines on November 15, 2025 at 05:33 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 4.0236°, 126.6366°, which is 200 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines. The nearest populated place is Lirung (population 0). View all earthquakes in Philippines.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000rneu). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, November 15, 2025). M5.3 Earthquake 200 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines — November 15, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000rneu/