4.9

M4.9 Earthquake 126 km N of Basco, Philippines — November 11, 2020

2020-11-11 21:35:34 UTC (2020-11-11) · approx. 5:35 AM UTC+8 local

MagnitudeM4.9(mb)
Time21:35 UTC≈ 5:35 AM UTC+8
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates21.591°, 121.942°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On November 11, 2020 at 21:35 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 126 km N of Basco, Philippines, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 21.5909°, 121.9421°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 21.59°, 121.94°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.9 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
21.5909°N
121.9421°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000cdjx
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
369
Azimuthal Gap
110.0°
Min Station Distance
1.459°
RMS Residual
0.69 sec
Last Updated
2025-12-22 18:45:08 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Basco, Philippines?

The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 126 km N of Basco, Philippines on November 11, 2020 at 21:35 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 21.5909°, 121.9421°, which is 126 km N of Basco, Philippines. View all earthquakes in Philippines.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 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 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000cdjx). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, November 11, 2020). M4.9 Earthquake 126 km N of Basco, Philippines — November 11, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000cdjx/