M5.1 Earthquake 121 km ESE of San Policarpo, Philippines — December 19, 2024
2024-12-19 19:22:19 UTC (2024-12-19) · approx. 3:22 AM UTC+8 local
On December 19, 2024 at 19:22 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 121 km ESE of San Policarpo, Philippines, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 11.9512°, 126.6021°. This earthquake was detected by 117 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
126.6021°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near San Policarpo, Philippines?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 121 km ESE of San Policarpo, Philippines on December 19, 2024 at 19:22 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 11.9512°, 126.6021°, which is 121 km ESE of San Policarpo, 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: us7000p04x). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 19, 2024). M5.1 Earthquake 121 km ESE of San Policarpo, Philippines — December 19, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000p04x/