5.0

M5.0 Earthquake 23 km N of Biri, PhilippinesMarch 7, 2026

2026-03-07 15:53:37 UTC (2026-03-07) · approx. 11:53 PM UTC+8 local

Felt by 2 people across nearby locations.

MagnitudeM5.0(mww)
Time15:53 UTC11:53 PM UTC+8
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates12.892°, 124.391°
Felt by2DYFI responses
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On March 7, 2026 at 15:53 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 23 km N of Biri, Philippines, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 12.8917°, 124.3914°. This earthquake was detected by 107 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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 12.89°, 124.39°

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 M5.0 earthquake near 23 km N of Biri, Philippines

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

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.0 mww
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
12.8917°N
124.3914°E
Felt Reports
2
DYFI responses
Community Intensity
3.4
CDI from reports

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000s311
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
385
Stations Used
107
Azimuthal Gap
81.0°
Min Station Distance
5.902°
RMS Residual
0.58 sec
Last Updated
2026-04-17 15:10:00 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Biri, Philippines?

The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 23 km N of Biri, Philippines on March 7, 2026 at 15:53 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 12.8917°, 124.3914°, which is 23 km N of Biri, Philippines. View all earthquakes in Philippines.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 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 5.0 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: us7000s311). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, March 7, 2026). M5.0 Earthquake 23 km N of Biri, PhilippinesMarch 7, 2026. Retrieved May 20, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000s311/