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.
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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 amMagnitude 5.5: 93 km west of Tobelo, Indonesia at a depth of 56.26 km.
- May 9, 2:23 pmMagnitude 6.3: 70 km southwest of Yonakuni, Japan at a depth of 27.02 km.
- May 8, 10:29 amMagnitude 5.2: 245 km north-northwest of Tobelo, Indonesia at a depth of 39.45 km.
- May 8, 10:12 amMagnitude 5.0: 245 km north-northwest of Tobelo, Indonesia at a depth of 51.14 km.
- May 6, 8:02 amMagnitude 5.3: 77 km east-southeast of Bobon at a depth of 68.27 km.
- May 6, 3:54 amMagnitude 5.0: 85 km east-southeast of Lukatan at a depth of 35 km.
- May 5, 6:37 pmMagnitude 5.1: 72 km east-southeast of Bobon at a depth of 78.99 km.
- May 5, 5:41 amMagnitude 5.6: 92 km east-southeast of Lukatan at a depth of 35 km.
- May 5, 4:21 pmMagnitude 5.9: 96 km southeast of Lukatan at a depth of 26.20 km.
- May 5, 4:16 amMagnitude 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.Date | Region | Depth | Magnitude | Deaths | Total damage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
08/11/2021 | Mindanao | 65 km | 7.1 | 1 | |
08/18/2020 | Masbate | 10 km | 6.6 | 2 | |
12/15/2019 | Mindanao (Davao) | 22 km | 6.8 | 13 | |
11/18/2019 | Mindanao (Bukidnon Province) | 5.9 | 0 | ||
10/31/2019 | Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat | 10 km | 6.5 | 9 | |
10/29/2019 | Mindanao (Cotabato, Davao) | 15 km | 6.6 | 12 | |
10/16/2019 | Mindanao (Cotabato, Davao) | 14 km | 6.4 | 7 | |
07/26/2019 | Batanes (Itbayat) | 10 km | 6.0 | 9 | |
07/12/2019 | Mindanao (Surigao Del Sur Province) | 14 km | 5.8 | 0 | |
07/09/2019 | Mindanao (Makilala, Tulunan) | 24 km | 5.6 | 1 | |
04/22/2019 | Pampanga Province | 20 km | 6.1 | 18 | |
09/23/2017 | Mindanao (Lanao Del Sur Province) | 16 km | 5.7 | 0 | |
08/22/2017 | Leyte (Ormoc) | 3 km | 5.0 | 2 | |
07/06/2017 | Leyte | 55 km | 6.5 | 4 | |
04/28/2017 | Sarangani | 26 km | 6.9 | 0 | |
04/08/2017 | Batangas, Calabarzon | 18 km | 5.9 | 0 | |
03/05/2017 | Surigao Del Norte | 1 km | 5.7 | 1 | |
02/10/2017 | Surigao Del Norte | 32 km | 6.5 | 8 | |
07/03/2015 | Mindanao | 54 km | 6.1 | 1 | |
09/20/2014 | Barangay Luayon | 52 km | 5.2 | 0 | |
10/15/2013 | Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor Is | 5 km | 7.1 | 222 | |
06/01/2013 | N. Cotabato (Kimadzil, Kibugtongan) | 6 km | 5.7 | 0 | |
08/31/2012 | Cagayan De Oro, Tacloban | 33 km | 7.6 | 1 | |
03/16/2012 | Surigao | 2 km | 5.8 | 0 | |
03/05/2012 | Masbate Island | 30 km | 5.6 | 0 | |
02/06/2012 | Negros Oriental Province | 12 km | 6.7 | 51 | |
11/07/2011 | Mindanao (Bukidnon Province) | 15 km | 5.0 | 0 | |
03/03/2011 | Mindanao | 1 km | 5.5 | 0 | |
07/23/2010 | Celebes Sea (Moro Gulf) | 12 km | 7.6 | 0 | |
09/18/2009 | Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat | 48 km | 5.7 | 0 | |
08/15/2008 | Luzon (Legaspi) | 16 km | 6.0 | 0 | |
11/07/2007 | Bohol Island (Mabini) | 38 km | 5.1 | 1 | |
02/16/2007 | Mindanao | 54 km | 4.9 | 0 | |
05/19/2004 | Bohol Island (Tubigon) | 10 km | 4.1 | 0 | |
11/18/2003 | Samar (Can-Avid) | 22 km | 6.5 | 1 | |
02/15/2003 | Masbate, Dimasalang | 59 km | 6.3 | 0 | |
02/15/2003 | Luzon (Dimasalang) | 58 km | 5.8 | 0 | |
03/05/2002 | Mindanao | 9 km | 7.5 | 15 | |
01/01/2001 | Mindanao | 4 km | 7.5 | 0 | |
07/16/2000 | Basco, Mount Irada, Batan Islands | 45 km | 6.4 | 0 | |
12/11/1999 | S Luzon (Manila, Santa Cruz) | 36 km | 7.3 | 5 | |
04/21/1995 | Samar | 1 km | 6.8 | 0 | |
04/21/1995 | Samar | 46 km | 7.2 | 0 | |
11/14/1994 | Mindoro | 30 km | 7.1 | 81 | |
05/17/1992 | Mindanao, Tandag, Bislig | 31 km | 7.5 | 0 | |
06/15/1991 | Luzon (Manila, Pinatubo Eruption) | 28 km | 5.5 | 0 | |
07/16/1990 | Baguio, Cabanatuan, Dagupan | 34 km | 7.8 | 2412 | |
06/14/1990 | Culasi, Panay | 56 km | 7.1 | 4 | |
03/26/1990 | Santiago | 16 km | 5.5 | 1 | |
02/08/1990 | Bohol, Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, Camiguin | 32 km | 6.6 | 0 | |
12/15/1989 | Mindanao (Cotabato, Davao) | 45 km | 7.5 | 2 | |
11/17/1988 | Samar (Catarman, Catbalogan) | 46 km | 6.6 | 0 | |
06/24/1988 | Luzon (Laoag) | 26 km | 5.4 | 0 | |
06/19/1988 | Mindoro (San Jose, Calapan) | 52 km | 6.2 | 2 | |
05/23/1987 | Mindanao (Talakag-Malaybalay) | 4 km | 5.2 | 1 | |
04/25/1987 | Manila, Cubi Point | 52 km | 6.3 | 0 | |
04/24/1985 | Luzon (Benguet Province, Baguio) | 14 km | 6.1 | 6 | |
03/18/1985 | Pagadian, Zamboanga | 45 km | 6.5 | 2 | |
08/17/1983 | Luzon | 56 km | 6.5 | 16 | |
01/11/1982 | Virac, Catanduanes | 6 km | 7.1 | 0 | |
06/14/1978 | Mindanao Island, Philippines | 33 km | 6.9 | 0 | |
03/18/1977 | Luzon (Manila) | 52 km | 7.3 | 1 | |
08/17/1976 | Mindanao | 27 km | 6.8 | 0 | |
08/16/1976 | Mindanao | 7 km | 8.0 | 1200 | |
10/31/1975 | Philippines | 2 km | 7.6 | 1 | |
03/17/1973 | Quezon City (Calaug, lopez, guiayangan) | 51 km | 7.5 | 15 | |
12/02/1972 | Mindanao, Davao | 47 km | 7.4 | 0 | |
04/25/1972 | Mindoro, Luzon, Manila | 9 km | 7.2 | 0 | |
09/30/1970 | Batan Islands (Basco, Sabtang) | 22 km | 5.3 | 0 | |
04/07/1970 | Luzon | 5 km | 7.3 | 15 | |
02/05/1970 | Luzon, Romblon I; Tablas I (Odiongan) | 58 km | 7.1 | 3 | |
01/10/1970 | Mindanao | 8 km | 7.6 | 0 | |
08/01/1968 | Luzon (Manila) | 21 km | 7.3 | 270 | |
10/07/1960 | Panay | 0.0 | 3 | ||
09/24/1957 | Philippines | 7.6 | 0 | ||
03/31/1955 | Mindanao (Lanao, ozamiz, cotabato) | 7.6 | 400 | ||
07/02/1954 | Luzon (Sorsogon, Bacon, Legaspi) | 6.8 | 13 | ||
03/19/1952 | Butuan | 12 km | 7.8 | 0 | |
03/19/1951 | Philippines | 7.8 | 0 |
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.