Magnitude 6.9 Earthquake to the east of Cebu Island, the Philippines.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded a Magnitude 6.9 Earthquake at a depth of 5 km, off the east coast of the northern part of Cebu Island, Philippines, slightly before 10.00 pm local time (slightly before 2.00 pm GMT) on Tuesday 30 September 2025. The event  was felt across the central Philippines, but no tsunami warning was issued, and no damage or casualties have been reported at the time of writing, although it is possible that unreported damage or injuries have occurred in remote locations. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology is warning of a high possibility of significant aftershocks. 

The approximate location of the 30 September 2025 Cebu Earthquake. USGS.

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.

Subduction beneath the Philippines. Yves Descatoire/Singapore Earth Observatory.

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