What the record shows for Philippines
The strongest earthquake on record near Philippines is a magnitude 7.8 in 1948, centred 3 km W of Buga, Philippines - 78 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 3,156 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 500 km of Philippines - roughly 158 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 60 tsunamis within 500 km of Philippines between 1645 and 2022. The most significant was in 1990 near W. Luzon Island, triggered by an M7.8 earthquake, which killed around 2,412 people.
29 volcanoes are catalogued near Philippines, including Malindig, Banahaw, San Pablo Volcanic Field, Taal, Laguna Caldera, Iriga and 23 more. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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The Philippines sits squarely on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the Philippine Sea and Sunda plates collide, producing frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Philippines.
Earthquake risk in Philippines - FAQ
Is Philippines at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 158 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 500 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.8 in 1948.
What was the biggest earthquake in Philippines?
The strongest earthquake on record near Philippines is M7.8, in 1948 (3 km W of Buga, Philippines), from USGS.
Does Philippines get tsunamis?
Yes - 60 tsunamis since 1645 (most recently 2022) within 500 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 2,412 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Philippines?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.