M4.8 Earthquake 13 km W of San Benito, Philippines — January 12, 2026
2026-01-12 16:48:24 UTC (2026-01-12) · approx. 12:48 AM UTC+8 local
Felt by 1 person across nearby locations.
On January 12, 2026 at 16:48 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 intermediate depth earthquake struck 13 km W of San Benito, Philippines, at a depth of 74.2 km and coordinates 9.9764°, 125.8857°. This earthquake was detected by 65 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 355, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 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
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 1 citizen response to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Earthquake Details
125.8857°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near San Benito, Philippines?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 13 km W of San Benito, Philippines on January 12, 2026 at 16:48 UTC had a depth of 74.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 9.9764°, 125.8857°, which is 13 km W of San Benito, Philippines. View all earthquakes in Philippines.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000rp69). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, January 12, 2026). M4.8 Earthquake 13 km W of San Benito, Philippines — January 12, 2026. Retrieved May 12, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000rp69/