On Saturday Evening an Unusually powerful M7.6 Earthquake struck in the Philippine Sea near Bislig (The Philippines).

Written by Earthquakelist.org on December 2nd, 2023. Last updated January 31st, 2024.

An unusually powerful Magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck in the Philippine Sea 36 kilometer from Bislig, The Philippines in the evening of Saturday December 2nd, 2023. The USGS has indicated there is a potential risk at tsunami's following this earthquake.

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Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Philippine Sea, right off the coast of The Philippines (2 mi offshore), 36 kilometer north-northeast of Bislig in Caraga. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 40 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Dec 2, 2023 10:37PM (Manila Time) - Dec 2, 2023 14:37 Universal Time.
Location:	36 km NNE of Bislig, Caraga, The Philippines. Coordinates 8°31'33"N 126°25'2"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 7.6 Detected by 5 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.028 .
Depth:	40 km (25 mi) A quite shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VIII Severe On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Potential tsunami risk The USGS has indicated there is a potential risk at tsunami's following this earthquake. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Potential tsunami risk

There is a potential tsunami risk in the aftermath of this earthquake, immediately evacuate to higher grounds away from coastal areas and monitor advice from local authorities. The US Geographic Survey organization has indicated a potential risk for tsunami's following this earthquake.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Significant economic impact

The US Geographic Survey (USGS) describes the impact of this earthquake as follows:

Two persons killed in Caraga and one killed in Region 11; 36 injured in Caraga and 12 in Region 11; 304 homes destroyed, 3887 damaged and many buildings damaged on Mindanao. A landslide and liquefaction were reported on Mindanao. A tsunami was generated with a recorded wave height of 64 cm on Mawes Island, 18 cm at Bislig, 8 cm at Davao City and 2 cm at Legazpi; 40 cm on Hachiji-jima, 20 cm at Kushimoto and at Tosashimizu, Japan; 1 cm on Malakal Island, Palau.

Based on scientific estimates by the USGS, the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level YELLOW (significant). They expect an 41% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 97% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 100 million USD.

Roughly 34 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 34 million people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

An estimated 862,100 people were exposed to level VII. At this level, very strong shaking and likely moderate damage can be expected. Intensity level IV was experienced by the majority of people (around 23 million). In their region, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of The Philippines .

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in The Philippines . Located 36 kilometer (22 mi) north-northeast of the epicenter of this earthquake, Bislig (Caraga, The Philippines) is the nearest significant population center. The intensity of shaking and damage in Bislig is estimated to be around level VII on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (very strong shaking, likely moderate damage).

Major cities near this earthquake: Davao is located 184 km to the south-southwest and experienced an intensity of V (moderate shaking, very light damage). Budta is located 263 km to the southwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Malingao is located 262 km to the southwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is VII.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Shaking reported by 357 people in 4 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 357 people have reported shaking in 182 places in 4 countries (Taiwan, Japan, Palau, Philippines).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Davao, Southern Mindanao, Philippines: 32 people.
• Purok, Caraga, Philippines: 15 people.
• Cebu, Central Visayas, Philippines: 12 people.
• Cagayan, Northern Mindanao, Philippines: 10 people.
• Barra, Northern Mindanao, Philippines: 9 people.
• Canocotan, Southern Mindanao, Philippines: 9 people.
• Butuan, Caraga, Philippines: 7 people.
• Libertad, Central Mindanao, Philippines: 7 people.
• Lapu-Lapu, Central Visayas, Philippines: 7 people.
• Katangawan, Southern Mindanao, Philippines: 6 people.

593 Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 593 smaller aftershocks were detected. Just 1 day after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-6.9 was detected 53 km (33 mi) north-northeast of this earthquake.

This main shock was prefaced by 2 smaller foreshocks. Roughly 16 hrs before this earthquake, a foreshock measuring MAG-3.8 was detected nearby this earthquake.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks