4.9

M4.9 Earthquake near Mindanao, PhilippinesSeptember 7, 2021

2021-09-07 02:29:30 UTC (2021-09-07) · approx. 10:29 AM UTC+8 local

MagnitudeM4.9(mb)
Time02:29 UTC10:29 AM UTC+8
Depth44.1 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates5.505°, 126.707°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 7, 2021 at 02:29 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck near Mindanao, Philippines, at a depth of 44.1 km and coordinates 5.5050°, 126.7069°.

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 5.50°, 126.71°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.9 mb
Depth
44.1 km
shallow crustal
Location
5.5050°N
126.7069°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000f8rg
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
369
Azimuthal Gap
56.0°
Min Station Distance
1.916°
RMS Residual
0.79 sec
Last Updated
2025-12-22 22:15:41 UTC

Common Questions

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

The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck near Mindanao, Philippines on September 7, 2021 at 02:29 UTC had a depth of 44.1 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 5.5050°, 126.7069°, which is near Mindanao, 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: us7000f8rg). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, September 7, 2021). M4.9 Earthquake near Mindanao, PhilippinesSeptember 7, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000f8rg/