M4.9 Earthquake 81 km SW of Basco, Philippines — June 16, 2023
2023-06-16 18:56:40 UTC (2023-06-16) · approx. 2:56 AM UTC+8 local
On June 16, 2023 at 18:56 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 81 km SW of Basco, Philippines, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 20.0353°, 121.3200°. This earthquake was detected by 145 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
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
Earthquake Details
121.3200°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Basco, Philippines?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 81 km SW of Basco, Philippines on June 16, 2023 at 18:56 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 20.0353°, 121.3200°, which is 81 km SW 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: us7000k91u). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, June 16, 2023). M4.9 Earthquake 81 km SW of Basco, Philippines — June 16, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000k91u/