4.9

M4.9 Earthquake 42 km W of Sangay, PhilippinesJanuary 19, 2026

2026-01-19 18:53:35 UTC (2026-01-19) · approx. 2:53 AM UTC+8 local

Felt by 2 people across nearby locations.

MagnitudeM4.9(mb)
Time18:53 UTC2:53 AM UTC+8
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates6.387°, 123.662°
Felt by2DYFI responses
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On January 19, 2026 at 18:53 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 42 km W of Sangay, Philippines, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 6.3872°, 123.6623°. This earthquake was detected by 60 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 370, 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 6.39°, 123.66°

Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking

Aggregated felt-report intensity from 2 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.

USGS DYFI community-reported intensity map for the M4.9 earthquake near 42 km W of Sangay, Philippines

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.9 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
6.3872°N
123.6623°E
Felt Reports
2
DYFI responses
Community Intensity
2.7
CDI from reports

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000rqmc
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
370
Stations Used
60
Azimuthal Gap
39.0°
Min Station Distance
2.021°
RMS Residual
0.96 sec
Last Updated
2026-04-18 14:47:20 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Sangay, Philippines?

The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 42 km W of Sangay, Philippines on January 19, 2026 at 18:53 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 6.3872°, 123.6623°, which is 42 km W of Sangay, 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.

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: us7000rqmc). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, January 19, 2026). M4.9 Earthquake 42 km W of Sangay, PhilippinesJanuary 19, 2026. Retrieved May 10, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000rqmc/