Shallow M5.4 Earthquake struck on Thursday Morning in the Sulu Sea near Zamboanga (The Philippines).

Written by Earthquakelist.org on January 23rd, 2025. Last updated January 24th, 2025.

Around noon of Thursday January 23rd, 2025, a shallow and significant Magnitude 5.4 earthquake hit in the Sulu Sea 85 kilometer from Zamboanga, The Philippines. Around 8 million people have been exposed to shaking.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Sulu Sea, right off the coast of The Philippines (5 mi offshore), 85 kilometer north of Zamboanga in Zamboanga Peninsula. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 10 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Jan 23, 2025 11:41AM (Manila Time) - Jan 23, 2025 03:41 Universal Time.
Location:	85 km north of Zamboanga, Zamboanga Peninsula, The Philippines. Coordinates 7°40'27"N 122°3'34"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.4 Detected by 21 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.068 .
Depth:	10 km (6 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VII Very Strong On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Low tsunami risk Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 do not usually 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 8 million people exposed to shaking

An estimated 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.

An estimated 38,230 people were exposed to level VI. At this level, strong shaking and probably light damage can be expected. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 5.3 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
255,200	II	Very weak	None
5,346,000	III	Weak	Probably none
1,849,000	IV	Light	Likely none
59,660	V	Moderate	Very light
38,230	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 . The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Ipil in Zamboanga Peninsula, The Philippines. Ipil is located 59 kilometer (37 mi) west-southwest of the epicenter. The intensity of shaking and damage in Ipil is estimated to be around level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (light shaking, likely no damage).

Major cities near this earthquake: Zamboanga is located 85 km to the south and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Budta is located 268 km to the east (intensity unknown, possibly low). Malingao is located 272 km to the east-southeast (intensity unknown, possibly low).

An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
59 km (37 mi) ENE from epicenter	Ipil Zamboanga Peninsula, The Philippines.	IV Light
81 km (50 mi) S from epicenter	Recodo Zamboanga Peninsula, The Philippines.	III Weak
85 km (53 mi) S from epicenter	Zamboanga Zamboanga Peninsula, The Philippines.	IV Light
108 km (67 mi) S from epicenter	City of Isabela Rehiyong Autonomo sa Muslim na Mindanao, The Philippines.	III Weak
127 km (79 mi) S from epicenter	Maluso Rehiyong Autonomo sa Muslim na Mindanao, The Philippines.	IV Light
153 km (95 mi) E from epicenter	Pagadian Zamboanga Peninsula, The Philippines.	III Weak
157 km (98 mi) E from epicenter	Muricay Zamboanga Peninsula, The Philippines.	III Weak
160 km (99 mi) ENE from epicenter	Mahayag Zamboanga Peninsula, The Philippines.	III Weak
164 km (102 mi) ENE from epicenter	Molave Zamboanga Peninsula, The Philippines.	III Weak
172 km (107 mi) NE from epicenter	Dipolog Zamboanga Peninsula, The Philippines.	III Weak
186 km (116 mi) NE from epicenter	Dapitan Zamboanga Peninsula, The Philippines.	III Weak
191 km (119 mi) ENE from epicenter	Tangub Northern Mindanao, The Philippines.	III Weak
203 km (126 mi) ENE from epicenter	Ozamiz City Northern Mindanao, The Philippines.	III Weak
205 km (127 mi) NNE from epicenter	Bayawan Central Visayas, The Philippines.	III Weak
205 km (127 mi) NNE from epicenter	Santa Catalina Central Visayas, The Philippines.	III Weak
212 km (132 mi) ENE from epicenter	Oroquieta Northern Mindanao, The Philippines.	III Weak
215 km (134 mi) NNE from epicenter	Asia Western Visayas, The Philippines.
215 km (134 mi) SSW from epicenter	Jolo Rehiyong Autonomo sa Muslim na Mindanao, The Philippines.	III Weak
227 km (141 mi) NE from epicenter	Dumaguete Central Visayas, The Philippines.	III Weak
231 km (144 mi) NE from epicenter	Sibulan Central Visayas, The Philippines.	III Weak
234 km (145 mi) N from epicenter	Sipalay Western Visayas, The Philippines.
238 km (148 mi) NNE from epicenter	Tanjay Central Visayas, The Philippines.
240 km (149 mi) ENE from epicenter	Boroon Northern Mindanao, The Philippines.
243 km (151 mi) NNE from epicenter	Bais Central Visayas, The Philippines.
244 km (152 mi) ENE from epicenter	Mantampay Northern Mindanao, The Philippines.
246 km (153 mi) E from epicenter	Cotabato Rehiyong Autonomo sa Muslim na Mindanao, The Philippines.
246 km (153 mi) E from epicenter	Parang Rehiyong Autonomo sa Muslim na Mindanao, The Philippines.
248 km (154 mi) E from epicenter	Marawi City Rehiyong Autonomo sa Muslim na Mindanao, The Philippines.
248 km (154 mi) ENE from epicenter	Iligan Northern Mindanao, The Philippines.
263 km (163 mi) ESE from epicenter	Pagaluñgan Rehiyong Autonomo sa Muslim na Mindanao, The Philippines.
266 km (165 mi) ENE from epicenter	Iligan City Soccsksargen, The Philippines.
268 km (167 mi) E from epicenter	Budta Rehiyong Autonomo sa Muslim na Mindanao, The Philippines.
270 km (168 mi) NNE from epicenter	Kabankalan Western Visayas, The Philippines.
272 km (169 mi) ESE from epicenter	Malingao Soccsksargen, The Philippines.
278 km (173 mi) E from epicenter	Midsayap Soccsksargen, The Philippines.
278 km (173 mi) NNE from epicenter	Suay Western Visayas, The Philippines.
278 km (173 mi) ESE from epicenter	Maganoy Rehiyong Autonomo sa Muslim na Mindanao, The Philippines.
280 km (174 mi) NE from epicenter	Danao Central Visayas, The Philippines.
284 km (176 mi) NNE from epicenter	Himamaylan Western Visayas, The Philippines.
287 km (178 mi) E from epicenter	Wao Rehiyong Autonomo sa Muslim na Mindanao, The Philippines.
294 km (183 mi) NNE from epicenter	Binalbagan Western Visayas, The Philippines.
294 km (183 mi) ESE from epicenter	Laguilayan Soccsksargen, The Philippines.
296 km (184 mi) NE from epicenter	Tagbilaran City Central Visayas, The Philippines.
299 km (186 mi) ENE from epicenter	Cagayan de Oro Northern Mindanao, The Philippines.
299 km (186 mi) NNE from epicenter	Isabela Western Visayas, The Philippines.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is VI. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

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 8 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 8 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:

Zamboanga, Western Mindanao, Philippines: 2 people.
Dauin, Central Visayas, Philippines: 1 person.
Bacungan, Western Mindanao, Philippines: 1 person.
Bago, Western Mindanao, Philippines: 1 person.
Kalawit, Western Mindanao, Philippines: 1 person.
Himamaylan, Western Visayas, Philippines: 1 person.
Iloilo, Western Visayas, Philippines: 1 person.

Risk of aftershocks?

We monitor for foreshocks or aftershocks that have a magnitude of 2.5+ and occur within 100km (62 mi) of the epicenter of this earthquake. So far no such earthquakes have been detected.

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 happen often in the region

Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since January 13th, 2025, when a 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit 225 km (140 mi) further east-southeast. An even stronger magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck on July 11th, 2024.

In total, 13 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.4 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 9 months.

Low tsunami risk

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.

Based on early data it appears this earthquake was not strong enough (lower than MAG-6.5) to be likely to cause destructive tsunami's. However this earthquake appeared to have hit at a shallow depth under sea, so 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 under the sea.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.4. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 10 km (6 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 24/01/25 12:28 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.