M4.7 Earthquake 20 km SSW of San Rafael, Philippines — September 13, 2025
2025-09-13 22:45:47 UTC (2025-09-13) · approx. 6:45 AM UTC+8 local
Aftershock of the M5.2 mainshock.
On September 13, 2025 at 22:45 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 20 km SSW of San Rafael, Philippines, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 12.9374°, 122.8587°. This earthquake was detected by 53 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 340, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 km — 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 5.2 mainshock that occurred 7 days ago 14 km WSW of Mabiton, Philippines. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 2 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
122.8587°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near San Rafael, Philippines?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 20 km SSW of San Rafael, Philippines on September 13, 2025 at 22:45 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 12.9374°, 122.8587°, which is 20 km SSW of San Rafael, Philippines. View all earthquakes in Philippines.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.7 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 14 km WSW of Mabiton, 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 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000qw1v). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, September 13, 2025). M4.7 Earthquake 20 km SSW of San Rafael, Philippines — September 13, 2025. Retrieved December 3, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000qw1v/