Magnitude 5.0 Tectonic Earthquake Near Balut Island

Mw 5.0 Earthquake Recorded 354 km South-Southeast of Balut Island on October 29

October 29, 2026

4–5 minutes

Quick Facts

Parameter	Details
PHIVOLCS bulletin	Earthquake Information No. 2
Magnitude	Mw 5.0
Date and time	October 29, 2026 · 3:56:49 a.m. PHT
Epicenter	354 km south-southeast of Balut Island, Davao Occidental
Depth	61 km
Type	Tectonic
Reported intensities	None listed
Damage expected	No
Aftershocks expected	No
Tsunami guidance	Not included in Bulletin No. 2
Bulletin status	Not explicitly marked final

What Happened?

DOST-PHIVOLCS recorded an Mw 5.0 tectonic earthquake at 3:56:49 a.m. Philippine time on October 29, 2026. Bulletin No. 2 places the epicenter 354 kilometers south-southeast of Balut Island, Davao Occidental, at a depth of 61 kilometers.

This is a separately listed offshore event from the October 28 earthquakes near Balut Island and Glan. The supplied bulletin does not establish a causal connection between these events.

Earthquake Details and Reported Shaking

The supplied bulletin lists no reported or instrumental intensities. This means no intensity observations are provided in that bulletin, not that shaking was definitively unfelt.

Damage and Casualty Update

PHIVOLCS lists damage expected: NO. The supplied bulletin does not report casualties or documented damage. The agency’s expectation is not a comprehensive field damage assessment.

Infographic instructions for earthquake safety: 'Drop, Cover, and Hold.' Steps include dropping to hands and knees, taking cover under a sturdy table or desk, and holding tight until shaking stops. Warnings about staying away from windows, mirrors, and heavy objects.

AI-Assisted Content Disclosure:

The information below was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence and is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and clarity, AI-generated content may contain errors, omissions, or interpretations that do not reflect the latest scientific findings or official guidance.

This content should not be considered a definitive or authoritative source for earthquake-related information. Readers are encouraged to verify important details with official agencies such as PHIVOLCS, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and other relevant government or scientific institutions before making decisions or taking action.

Always rely on official advisories during emergencies and disaster situations.

Infographic explaining seismic event magnitudes and their potential impacts, categorized from below 3.0 (very small) to 8.0+ (great), detailing effects and damage levels.

Why Did This Earthquake Happen?

PHIVOLCS classifies the event as tectonic, meaning it involves movement within Earth’s crust or lithosphere. The bulletin details provided do not identify a particular fault, trench, plate boundary or aftershock sequence; assigning one would be speculative.

Is There a Tsunami Threat?

The supplied PHIVOLCS Bulletin No. 2 does not include tsunami guidance. This is not the same as an explicit declaration that no tsunami threat exists. For coastal safety, rely on separate official PHIVOLCS tsunami advisories and local government instructions.

Could Aftershocks Occur?

For this specific event, PHIVOLCS lists aftershocks expected: NO. This does not rule out unrelated earthquakes in the broader region.

Could This Trigger Other Earthquakes?

The bulletin provides no evidence that this event triggered, or will trigger, another earthquake. Individual earthquake forecasts cannot be inferred from the event’s magnitude alone.

Safety Advice

During strong shaking, Drop, Cover and Hold On. After shaking stops, check for hazards and follow local disaster authority advisories. Coastal residents should also monitor official tsunami advisories when relevant.

If you felt the earthquake:

Remain alert and monitor PHIVOLCS for any subsequent earthquake bulletins. For context on the broader June 2026 earthquake sequence, you may also want to review WVF’s earlier coverage of aftershocks in Davao Occidental for additional context on how a sequence can continue after a larger event.
Stay away from visibly damaged buildings and structures. If you are in a high-rise, use a controlled evacuation rather than rushing into stairwells; see High-Rise Earthquake Evacuation, Part 2: Thirty Floors Down to Safety.
Check your home for hazards such as gas leaks or damaged electrical wiring. Visit our blog, Ideas to Secure Your House Against Earthquakes: Simple Steps for Safety in the Philippines for ideas on securing your house.
Monitor only official information from PHIVOLCS and local disaster authorities.
Avoid sharing unverified information on social media.
Remember to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if another strong earthquake occurs. If you are in a high-rise or workplace setting, review WVF’s High-Rise Earthquake Evacuation before deciding when and how to move after the shaking stops.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Don’t Just Read About Earthquakes—Prepare for Them.

Even when a specific earthquake is not expected to cause damage or aftershocks, it is a useful reminder to prepare before the next damaging event. Choose the next step that best fits your household.

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