The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 4.8 Earthquake at a depth of 10.1 km, 14 km to the southeast of the city of Tandag in Surigao del Sur Province on Mindanao Island in the Philippines, slightly after 10.20 am local time (slightly after 2.10 am GMT) on Sunday 12 January 2014. There are no reports of any damage or injuries relating to this event, though it was felt across much of the east of the province.
The approximate location of the 12 January 2013 Surigao del Sur Earthquake. Google Maps.
The geology of the central Philippines is Complex. The west of Mindanao Island is located on the Banda (or Sunda) Microplate, and the east on the Philippine Plate, which is being subducted beneath the Sunda (or Banda) Microplate along the central part of the island. Immediately to the east of the Island the Pacific Plate is being subducted along the Philippine Trench, and passes beneath eastern Mindanao as it sinks into the Earth. This is not a smooth process, an the plates constantly stick together then break apart again as the pressure builds up, resulting in Earthquakes.
See also Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake on Bohol Island, the Philippines, Magnitude 4.8 Earthquake on Mindanao Island, the Philippines, Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake on Mindanao Island, the Philippines, Five people killed by eruption on Mount Mayon, the Philippines and Earthquake off Mindanao Island in the Philippines.
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