M5.1 Earthquake 72 km N of Basco, Philippines — May 25, 2023
2023-05-25 13:48:28 UTC (2023-05-25) · approx. 9:48 PM UTC+8 local
On May 25, 2023 at 13:48 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 72 km N of Basco, Philippines, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 21.1001°, 122.0167°. This earthquake was detected by 52 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 400, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 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
Earthquake Details
122.0167°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Basco, Philippines?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 72 km N of Basco, Philippines on May 25, 2023 at 13:48 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 21.1001°, 122.0167°, which is 72 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 5.1 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 5.1 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000k3wu). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 25, 2023). M5.1 Earthquake 72 km N of Basco, Philippines — May 25, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000k3wu/