M5.1 Earthquake 71 km E of Marihatag, Philippines — December 3, 2023
2023-12-03 22:42:17 UTC (2023-12-03) · approx. 6:42 AM UTC+8 local
On December 3, 2023 at 22:42 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 71 km E of Marihatag, Philippines, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 8.7045°, 126.9358°. This earthquake was detected by 157 seismic stations with excellent 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
126.9358°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Marihatag, Philippines?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 71 km E of Marihatag, Philippines on December 3, 2023 at 22:42 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 8.7045°, 126.9358°, which is 71 km E of Marihatag, 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: us7000lg03). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 3, 2023). M5.1 Earthquake 71 km E of Marihatag, Philippines — December 3, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000lg03/