A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.5 hit the southern Philippines on Monday, the United States Geological Survey said.
The quake’s epicentre was reported to be 209km south-east of the town of Mati in Davao Oriental on Mindanao Island.
Mylene Carols of the Philippine Institute of Vulcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) said the quake was felt along the east coast of the island, but there were no reports of damage or injuries.
”The quake’s epicentre was out at sea and not on land,” she said.
”From our initial reports it was about 10km below the surface,” she added, adding that no tsunami warning has been issued.
”There is only a small chance of a tsunami because we use magnitude seven and below as our cut-off point,” said Philvolcs’s Angelito Lunuza.
”Although we have not issued a tsunami warning, we have asked all our stations along the east coast to monitor any changes in sea levels just in case,” he said.
The archipelago nation, made up of more than 7 000 islands, sits on the Pacific ”Ring of Fire” where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity. — Sapa-AFP