4.6

M4.6 Earthquake 120 km SE of Pondaguitan, PhilippinesSeptember 6, 2021

2021-09-06 21:16:25 UTC (2021-09-06) · approx. 5:16 AM UTC+8 local

MagnitudeM4.6(mb)
Time21:16 UTC5:16 AM UTC+8
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates5.530°, 126.883°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 6, 2021 at 21:16 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 120 km SE of Pondaguitan, Philippines, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 5.5296°, 126.8831°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — 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 5.53°, 126.88°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.6 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
5.5296°N
126.8831°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000fb2q
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
326
Azimuthal Gap
178.0°
Min Station Distance
2.005°
RMS Residual
0.89 sec
Last Updated
2021-11-17 17:25:56 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Pondaguitan, Philippines?

The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 120 km SE of Pondaguitan, Philippines on September 6, 2021 at 21:16 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 5.5296°, 126.8831°, which is 120 km SE of Pondaguitan, Philippines. View all earthquakes in Philippines.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000fb2q). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, September 6, 2021). M4.6 Earthquake 120 km SE of Pondaguitan, PhilippinesSeptember 6, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000fb2q/