Earthquake of magnitude 6.4 jolts southern Philippines

Manila: A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of southern Philippines on Wednesday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported. The quake occurred near the island of Mindanao, about 27 kilometres east of the town of Santiago, at a depth of around 58 kilometres.

The earthquake was initially reported as magnitude 6.7 before being revised to 6.4. So far, there are no tsunami warnings and no immediate reports of major damage or casualties, officials said.

Nash Paragas, a rescue worker in Davao Oriental, said the tremor was brief but noticeable.

He said, “There was shaking. I saw some of the cars moving, but I think it was only for a short time, around five seconds.”

The region has experienced strong earthquakes recently. In October, two major quakes measuring 7.4 and 6.7 hit eastern Mindanao, killing at least eight people. Earlier, a 6.9-magnitude quake killed 76 people and damaged more than 72,000 houses in Cebu province.

Earthquakes are common in the Philippines because the country lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” — a zone known for intense seismic activity.