On Wednesday Night a Significant M5.7 Earthquake struck near Laoag in The Philippines.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on December 3rd, 2024. Last updated December 20th, 2024.

In the night of Wednesday December 4th, 2024, a significant Magnitude 5.7 earthquake hit under land 40 kilometer from Laoag in The Philippines. Shaking may have been felt by a total of 5.8 million people.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in The Philippines, 40 kilometer (25 mi) north-northeast of Laoag in Ilocos. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 34 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Dec 4, 2024 02:54AM (Manila Time) - Dec 3, 2024 18:54 Universal Time.
Location:	40 km NNE of Laoag, Ilocos, The Philippines. Coordinates 18°30'1"N 120°47'47"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.7 Detected by 51 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.043 .
Depth:	34 km (21 mi) A quite shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	V Moderate On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake in a coastal area, it appears to have occurred under land (6 km from the sea) with a magnitude that is usually not strong enough to cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (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 GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 5.8 million people exposed to shaking

An estimated 5.8 million have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

Moderate shaking and very light damage may have been experienced by an estimated 15,920 people. At V, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 3.8 million). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of The Philippines .

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
59,980	II	Very weak	None
3,793,000	III	Weak	Probably none
1,922,000	IV	Light	Likely none
15,920	V	Moderate	Very light
0	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in The Philippines . Laoag in Ilocos, The Philippines is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 40 kilometer (25 mi) north-northeast of Laoag. The intensity of shaking and damage in Laoag is estimated to be around level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (light shaking, likely no damage).

Major cities near this earthquake: Laoag is located 40 km to the south-southwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Baguio is located 233 km to the south (intensity unknown, possibly low). Tuguegarao is located 139 km to the south-east and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably 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

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
40 km (25 mi) SSW from epicenter	Laoag Ilocos, The Philippines.	IV Light
42 km (26 mi) SSW from epicenter	San Nicolas Ilocos, The Philippines.	IV Light
55 km (34 mi) SSW from epicenter	Batac City Ilocos, The Philippines.	IV Light
90 km (56 mi) E from epicenter	Aparri Cagayan Valley, The Philippines.	IV Light
112 km (70 mi) SSW from epicenter	Vigan Ilocos, The Philippines.	IV Light
134 km (83 mi) SE from epicenter	Solana Cagayan Valley, The Philippines.	III Weak
134 km (83 mi) SSE from epicenter	Tabuk Cordillera, The Philippines.	III Weak
139 km (86 mi) SE from epicenter	Tuguegarao Cagayan Valley, The Philippines.	III Weak
158 km (98 mi) SE from epicenter	Cabagan Cagayan Valley, The Philippines.	III Weak
176 km (109 mi) SSW from epicenter	Santa Maria Ilocos, The Philippines.	III Weak
177 km (110 mi) SSE from epicenter	Roxas Cagayan Valley, The Philippines.	III Weak
178 km (111 mi) SSW from epicenter	Tagudin Ilocos, The Philippines.	III Weak
182 km (113 mi) S from epicenter	Mankayan Cordillera, The Philippines.	III Weak
190 km (118 mi) SE from epicenter	Ilagan Cagayan Valley, The Philippines.	III Weak
198 km (123 mi) SSE from epicenter	San Mateo Cagayan Valley, The Philippines.	III Weak
206 km (128 mi) SSE from epicenter	Ramon Cagayan Valley, The Philippines.	III Weak
206 km (128 mi) SSE from epicenter	Diadi Cagayan Valley, The Philippines.	III Weak
214 km (133 mi) SSE from epicenter	Alicia Cagayan Valley, The Philippines.	III Weak
216 km (134 mi) SSW from epicenter	San Fernando Ilocos, The Philippines.
217 km (135 mi) SSE from epicenter	Santiago Cagayan Valley, The Philippines.	III Weak
224 km (139 mi) S from epicenter	Solano Cagayan Valley, The Philippines.
224 km (139 mi) SSW from epicenter	Bauang Ilocos, The Philippines.
226 km (140 mi) S from epicenter	Baggabag B Cagayan Valley, The Philippines.
228 km (142 mi) S from epicenter	Bayombong Cagayan Valley, The Philippines.
229 km (142 mi) S from epicenter	La Trinidad Cordillera, The Philippines.
233 km (145 mi) S from epicenter	Baguio Cordillera, The Philippines.
237 km (147 mi) S from epicenter	Bambang Cagayan Valley, The Philippines.
238 km (148 mi) S from epicenter	Itogon Cordillera, The Philippines.
239 km (149 mi) S from epicenter	Aringay Ilocos, The Philippines.
271 km (168 mi) S from epicenter	Guiset East Ilocos, The Philippines.
273 km (170 mi) S from epicenter	Mangaldan Ilocos, The Philippines.
275 km (171 mi) S from epicenter	Manaoag Ilocos, The Philippines.
278 km (173 mi) S from epicenter	Dagupan Ilocos, The Philippines.
279 km (173 mi) SSW from epicenter	Agoo Ilocos, The Philippines.
280 km (174 mi) S from epicenter	Binmaley Ilocos, The Philippines.
281 km (175 mi) S from epicenter	Calasiao Ilocos, The Philippines.
281 km (175 mi) S from epicenter	Santa Barbara Ilocos, The Philippines.
282 km (175 mi) SSW from epicenter	Lingayen Ilocos, The Philippines.
282 km (175 mi) S from epicenter	Urdaneta Ilocos, The Philippines.
285 km (177 mi) SSW from epicenter	Domalanoan Ilocos, The Philippines.

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 V.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 7 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 7 people have reported shaking in 7 places, all within 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:

Claveria, Cagayan Valley, Philippines: 1 person.
Nangalisan, Cordillera, Philippines: 1 person.
Bangui, Ilocos, Philippines: 1 person.
Laoag, Ilocos, Philippines: 1 person.
Tamorong, Ilocos, Philippines: 1 person.
Vigan, Ilocos, Philippines: 1 person.
Vintar, Ilocos, Philippines: 1 person.

3 Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 3 smaller aftershocks were detected. At a distance of 30 km (18 mi) south-southwest of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 2 days later. It measured a magnitude of 3.9

Before this earthquake struck, 2 smaller foreshocks occurred. A 3.5 magnitude earthquake hit 9 hrs earlier nearby.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.
Classification	Magnitude	When	Where
Foreshock	M 3.5	9 hrs earlier Dec 4, 2024 11:51AM (Manila Time)	71 km (44 mi) N from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 3.3	5 hrs earlier Dec 4, 2024 04:08PM (Manila Time)	60 km (37 mi) N from Main Shock.
Main Shock	M 4.0	Dec 4, 2024 08:56PM (Manila Time)	-
Aftershock	M 3.1	1 day later Dec 6, 2024 02:29AM (Manila Time)	69 km (43 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.9	2 days later Dec 6, 2024 11:02AM (Manila Time)	30 km (18 mi) SSW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.2	2 days later Dec 6, 2024 01:25PM (Manila Time)	31 km (19 mi) SSW from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this are common in the region

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since September 12th, 2023, when a 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit 94 km (58 mi) further north-northeast. An even stronger magnitude 7 earthquake struck on July 27th, 2022.

In total, 6 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.7 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 2 years.

Tsunami very unlikely

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

While MAG-6.5+ earthquakes may cause tsunami's, it appears that the epicenter of this earthquake hit under land. In addition, the reported depth is deeper than 100km, making the risk of a tsunami even less likely. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	This earthquake appears to have struck on land near a coastal area (6 km from the sea).	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.7. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 34 km (21 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 20/12/24 20:18 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.