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Earthquakes in the Philippines

In the Philippines there are very strong earthquakes with far-reaching consequences. Earthquakes with a magnitude of over 8.0 destroy numerous houses within a radius of several hundred kilometers and are causing great damage and devastation. Due to the special tectonic situation of the country, there are more earthquakes than average.

Since 1950 more than 4800 people died by direct consequences of earthquakes. 22 earthquakes also caused a subsequent tsunami, which claimed further lifes and damages.

Other natural hazards in the Philippines:
› Volcanos
› Tsunamis
› Typhoons
› The most severe natural disasters worldwide


Back to overview: Philippines

Most recent events

This list includes the strongest earthquakes recorded in or around the Philippines by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the past 14 days. Whether an event is listed here depends largely on its magnitude, but also on its distance from inhabited areas. All data refer to the local time. This page is updated daily at 11am UTC.

  • May 9, 5:51 am
    Magnitude 5.5: 93 km west of Tobelo, Indonesia at a depth of 56.26 km.
  • May 9, 2:23 pm
    Magnitude 6.3: 70 km southwest of Yonakuni, Japan at a depth of 27.02 km.
  • May 8, 10:29 am
    Magnitude 5.2: 245 km north-northwest of Tobelo, Indonesia at a depth of 39.45 km.
  • May 8, 10:12 am
    Magnitude 5.0: 245 km north-northwest of Tobelo, Indonesia at a depth of 51.14 km.
  • May 6, 8:02 am
    Magnitude 5.3: 77 km east-southeast of Bobon at a depth of 68.27 km.
  • May 6, 3:54 am
    Magnitude 5.0: 85 km east-southeast of Lukatan at a depth of 35 km.
  • May 5, 6:37 pm
    Magnitude 5.1: 72 km east-southeast of Bobon at a depth of 78.99 km.
  • May 5, 5:41 am
    Magnitude 5.6: 92 km east-southeast of Lukatan at a depth of 35 km.
  • May 5, 4:21 pm
    Magnitude 5.9: 96 km southeast of Lukatan at a depth of 26.20 km.
  • May 5, 4:16 am
    Magnitude 5.1: 82 km southeast of Lukatan at a depth of 10 km.

Earthquakes in the Philippines since 1950

The strongest earthquake in the Philippines happened on 08/16/1976 in the region Mindanao with a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale. The shifting of tectonic plates in a depth of 7 km resulted in 1200 deaths. The earthquake also triggered a tsunami with further victims and destructions.
DateRegionDepthMagnitudeDeathsTotal damage
08/11/2021Mindanao65 km7.11
08/18/2020Masbate10 km6.62
12/15/2019Mindanao (Davao)22 km6.813
11/18/2019Mindanao (Bukidnon Province) 5.90
10/31/2019Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat10 km6.59
10/29/2019Mindanao (Cotabato, Davao)15 km6.612
10/16/2019Mindanao (Cotabato, Davao)14 km6.47
07/26/2019Batanes (Itbayat)10 km6.09
07/12/2019Mindanao (Surigao Del Sur Province)14 km5.80
07/09/2019Mindanao (Makilala, Tulunan)24 km5.61
04/22/2019Pampanga Province20 km6.118
09/23/2017Mindanao (Lanao Del Sur Province)16 km5.70
08/22/2017Leyte (Ormoc)3 km5.02
07/06/2017Leyte55 km6.54
04/28/2017Sarangani26 km6.90
04/08/2017Batangas, Calabarzon18 km5.90
03/05/2017Surigao Del Norte1 km5.71
02/10/2017Surigao Del Norte32 km6.58
07/03/2015Mindanao54 km6.11
09/20/2014Barangay Luayon52 km5.20
10/15/2013Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor Is5 km7.1222
06/01/2013N. Cotabato (Kimadzil, Kibugtongan)6 km5.70
08/31/2012Cagayan De Oro, Tacloban33 km7.61
03/16/2012Surigao2 km5.80
03/05/2012Masbate Island30 km5.60
02/06/2012Negros Oriental Province12 km6.751
11/07/2011Mindanao (Bukidnon Province)15 km5.00
03/03/2011Mindanao1 km5.50
07/23/2010Celebes Sea (Moro Gulf)12 km7.60
09/18/2009Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat48 km5.70
08/15/2008Luzon (Legaspi)16 km6.00
11/07/2007Bohol Island (Mabini)38 km5.11
02/16/2007Mindanao54 km4.90
05/19/2004Bohol Island (Tubigon)10 km4.10
11/18/2003Samar (Can-Avid)22 km6.51
02/15/2003Masbate, Dimasalang59 km6.30
02/15/2003Luzon (Dimasalang)58 km5.80
03/05/2002Mindanao9 km7.515
01/01/2001Mindanao4 km7.50
07/16/2000Basco, Mount Irada, Batan Islands45 km6.40
12/11/1999S Luzon (Manila, Santa Cruz)36 km7.35
04/21/1995Samar1 km6.80
04/21/1995Samar46 km7.20
11/14/1994Mindoro30 km7.181
05/17/1992Mindanao, Tandag, Bislig31 km7.50
06/15/1991Luzon (Manila, Pinatubo Eruption)28 km5.50
07/16/1990Baguio, Cabanatuan, Dagupan34 km7.82412
06/14/1990Culasi, Panay56 km7.14
03/26/1990Santiago16 km5.51
02/08/1990Bohol, Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, Camiguin32 km6.60
12/15/1989Mindanao (Cotabato, Davao)45 km7.52
11/17/1988Samar (Catarman, Catbalogan)46 km6.60
06/24/1988Luzon (Laoag)26 km5.40
06/19/1988Mindoro (San Jose, Calapan)52 km6.22
05/23/1987Mindanao (Talakag-Malaybalay)4 km5.21
04/25/1987Manila, Cubi Point52 km6.30
04/24/1985Luzon (Benguet Province, Baguio)14 km6.16
03/18/1985Pagadian, Zamboanga45 km6.52
08/17/1983Luzon56 km6.516
01/11/1982Virac, Catanduanes6 km7.10
06/14/1978Mindanao Island, Philippines33 km6.90
03/18/1977Luzon (Manila)52 km7.31
08/17/1976Mindanao27 km6.80
08/16/1976Mindanao7 km8.01200
10/31/1975Philippines2 km7.61
03/17/1973Quezon City (Calaug, lopez, guiayangan)51 km7.515
12/02/1972Mindanao, Davao47 km7.40
04/25/1972Mindoro, Luzon, Manila9 km7.20
09/30/1970Batan Islands (Basco, Sabtang)22 km5.30
04/07/1970Luzon5 km7.315
02/05/1970Luzon, Romblon I; Tablas I (Odiongan)58 km7.13
01/10/1970Mindanao8 km7.60
08/01/1968Luzon (Manila)21 km7.3270
10/07/1960Panay 0.03
09/24/1957Philippines 7.60
03/31/1955Mindanao (Lanao, ozamiz, cotabato) 7.6400
07/02/1954Luzon (Sorsogon, Bacon, Legaspi) 6.813
03/19/1952Butuan12 km7.80
03/19/1951Philippines 7.80


These statistics are based on datas from the National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K. Several data have been summarized and translated.
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