An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 occurred early morning on Saturday 16 January 2021 at 6:48 am local time near Calaca, Province of Batangas, Calabarzon, Philippines, as reported by the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ).
According to preliminary data, the quake was located at an intermediate to considerable depth of 185 km. The strength of the earthquake may have been tempered by its relative great depth below the surface, which makes it feel weaker in absolute terms. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.
Our monitoring service identified a second report from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) which listed the quake at magnitude 4.5. A third agency, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), reported the same quake at magnitude 4.5.
Towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Hukay (pop. 2,200) located 8 km from the epicenter, Calaca (pop. 37,400) 11 km away, Balayan (pop. 50,100) 12 km away, Balayan (pop. 50,100) 12 km away, Calatagan (pop. 16,100) 16 km away, Taal (pop. 39,700) 16 km away, Bauan (pop. 33,600) 25 km away, Batangas City (pop. 237,400) 31 km away, Las Piñas (pop. 590,000) 71 km away, and Manila (pop. 1,600,000) 88 km away.
VolcanoDiscovery will automatically update magnitude and depth if these change and follow up if other significant news about the quake become available. If you’re in the area, please send us your experience through our reporting mechanism, either online or via our mobile app. This will help us provide more first-hand updates to anyone around the globe who wants to know more about this quake.
Earthquake data: 
(South China Sea, Philippines)