M4.9 Earthquake 42 km NE of Barcelona, Philippines — December 19, 2023
2023-12-19 08:14:14 UTC (2023-12-19) · approx. 4:14 PM UTC+8 local
On December 19, 2023 at 08:14 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 42 km NE of Barcelona, Philippines, at a depth of 43.1 km and coordinates 8.3958°, 126.7399°. This earthquake was detected by 64 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
126.7399°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Barcelona, Philippines?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 42 km NE of Barcelona, Philippines on December 19, 2023 at 08:14 UTC had a depth of 43.1 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 8.3958°, 126.7399°, which is 42 km NE of Barcelona, 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: us7000lk09). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 19, 2023). M4.9 Earthquake 42 km NE of Barcelona, Philippines — December 19, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000lk09/