A magnitude 6.7 earthquake shook the coast of the southern Philippines on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.
Local authorities there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The quake struck at a depth of 70 kilometres (43 miles) about 100 kilometres southeast of Sarangani municipality off Mindanao island, the USGS said.
The tremor did not trigger a tsunami alert, according to the US Tsunami Warning System and Philippine seismological authorities.
“By the grace of God it was not that strong in our province,” said CMSgt. Ian Roy Balandan of the Sarangani provincial police office on Mindanao.
Balandan told the AFP (Agence France Presse) there had been no reports of casualties or damage to infrastructures or houses.
“It was really mild. People hardly felt it,” he said.
Harly Sauro, a disaster official in Sarangani municipality, which is a small group of islands that forms part of Davao Occidental province, said the quake had not caused any damage or casualties, but “did disturb some people from their sleep”.
Earthquakes regularly strike the Philippines, which sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of intense seismic and volcanic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.
Most quakes though are too weak to be felt by humans.
Last month, a 7.6-magnitude quake struck off Mindanao, briefly triggering a tsunami warning. At least three people died in that incident.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said the tremor of tectonic origin occurred at 4:48 a.m. with a depth of 94 kilometers.
Intensity 4 was felt in – Glan, Malungon and Kiamba, Sarangani, while intensity 3 was experienceed in General Santos City; Koronadal City, Tupi, Polomolok and T’boli in South Cotabato; Alabel and
Malapatan in Sarangani, and Matalam in Cotabato, Intensity 2 was felt in Tampakan, Tantangan, Banga, Norala,
Santo Niño, Surallah and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato; Zamboanga City; Maitum in Sarangani; Kidapawan City, Makilala, M’lang, Pigcawayan,
Tulunan and Kabacannin Cotabato, and President Quirino in Sultan Kudarat. Cagayan de Oro City; Maasim in Sarangani; Arakan in Cotabato, and
Isulan in Sultan Kudarat.
Aftershocks may occur, but no damage is expected, PHIVOLCS said.
“No destructive tsunami threat exists based on available data.
This is for information purposes only and there is no tsunami threat to the Philippines from this earthquake,” it added. With AFP