The Philippines records thousands of earthquakes every year, but only a handful are large enough to reshape communities. Since 2020, the country has been hit by several magnitude-7 and stronger earthquakes, most of them offshore around Mindanao. Here are the strongest, ranked by magnitude, along with what made each one significant.
A quick note on the numbers: magnitudes below are moment magnitudes (Mw) as reported by the USGS and PHIVOLCS, and may be revised slightly as agencies refine their analysis.
The biggest quakes of the decade so far
Offshore Sarangani / Mindanao
The strongest Philippine earthquake in over a decade. It struck off Maasim, Sarangani at 7:37 AM — the first day of the school year — triggering tsunami warnings across southern Mindanao, ~1-metre waves, and over 1,100 aftershocks. The NDRRMC reported 81 people killed and 31 missing, more than 1.6 million people affected, and over 15,000 houses destroyed.
Off Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur
A major offshore quake on the Philippine Trench plate interface, off the eastern seaboard of Mindanao. It prompted tsunami warnings for Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental, forced coastal evacuations, and was followed by a long, energetic aftershock sequence.
Offshore Davao Oriental (Manay)
A doublet — a Mw 7.4 followed hours later by a ~Mw 6.8 — about 48 km northeast of Manay. Tsunami warnings covered seven provinces. At least 10 people died, more than 1,000 were injured or hospitalised, and close to 40,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.
Deep beneath the Celebes Sea, off Sultan Kudarat
A powerful but unusual quake: PHIVOLCS located it about 133 km southwest of Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, at a depth of around 722 km. At that depth the shaking spread out and weakened before reaching the surface. The strongest reported intensity was only Intensity IV, in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental. PHIVOLCS expected no damage and said there was no tsunami threat.
Abra, Luzon
The strongest of these to strike on land and the only one in Luzon. Centred in Abra, it killed 11 people and damaged hundreds of structures across the north — including centuries-old heritage churches in Ilocos and Vigan — and was strongly felt in Metro Manila.
Off Bogo City, northern Cebu
A shallow quake, about 5 km deep, that struck just off the coast of northern Cebu at 9:59 PM. Despite being smaller than most quakes on this list, it was one of the deadliest: the NDRRMC reported more than 70 people killed in the first days, and Cebu declared a state of calamity. Homes, churches, roads and ports across northern Cebu were damaged, and over 100,000 people were affected.
Masbate (Cataingan)
The strongest quake of 2020. It ruptured the Masbate segment of the Philippine Fault — producing a visible ground rupture onshore — left at least 2 dead and ~170 injured, and was the second magnitude-6+ quake to hit the same fault segment in 17 years.
What the pattern tells us
The three strongest quakes since 2020 were all offshore around Mindanao. The Hinatuan and Davao Oriental quakes struck along the Philippine Trench, where the Philippine Sea Plate dives beneath the islands, and the 2026 Sarangani quake struck off the southern coast. Large offshore quakes like these can generate tsunamis, which is why each of them triggered tsunami warnings.
The 2024 Sultan Kudarat quake shows the other extreme: it was the fourth-strongest on this list but caused almost no damage, because it happened more than 700 km underground.
The Abra, Cebu and Masbate quakes are a different story again. All three struck on or close to land at shallow depths, near where people live. Cebu's M6.9 was smaller than four other quakes on this list, yet it was one of the deadliest. These quakes are a reminder that the danger isn't only along the coast: active faults run directly beneath populated areas, including the West Valley Fault near Metro Manila.
Stronger doesn't always mean deadlier
An earthquake's magnitude measures energy released, but its impact depends on depth, distance from people, soil, and building quality. A shallow, on-land quake can cause far more damage than a larger but deep, offshore one. That's why local intensity — how strongly shaking is actually felt — matters as much as the headline magnitude.
Track real-time quakes across the Philippines and check what's near you.
Want to be ready when the next big one hits? Read our earthquake safety guide for what to do before, during, and after a quake.
Sources: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program; PHIVOLCS earthquake primers and bulletins; NDRRMC situation reports (Sarangani 2026, Cebu 2025); ReliefWeb situation reports. Figures reflect reporting at the time and may be updated. Updated November 5, 2026: added the 2024 Sultan Kudarat and 2025 Cebu earthquakes, and updated the Sarangani casualty figures.