M4.6 Earthquake 65 km S of Sarangani, Philippines — June 2, 2023
2023-06-02 21:40:14 UTC (2023-06-02) · approx. 5:40 AM UTC+8 local
Aftershock of the M5.6 mainshock.
On June 2, 2023 at 21:40 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 65 km S of Sarangani, Philippines, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 4.8090°, 125.4626°. This earthquake was detected by 52 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.6 mainshock that occurred 23 days ago 41 km SW of Sarangani, Philippines. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 21 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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
125.4626°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Sarangani, Philippines?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 65 km S of Sarangani, Philippines on June 2, 2023 at 21:40 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 4.8090°, 125.4626°, which is 65 km S of Sarangani, 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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.6 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.6 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.6 mainshock that occurred earlier 41 km SW of Sarangani, Philippines. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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: us7000k5x7). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, June 2, 2023). M4.6 Earthquake 65 km S of Sarangani, Philippines — June 2, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000k5x7/