The US Geological Survey announced that a powerful 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit the southern Philippines on Friday, according to Al-Arabiya English.
This comes less than three weeks after a devastating earthquake claimed more than 80 lives in the same region.
The quake struck at 7:42 p.m. local time (1142 GMT) at a depth of 52.4 kilometers (33 miles), with its epicenter about 35 kilometers southwest of Jose Abad Santos on Mindanao Island, according to the US Geological Survey, which later lowered its initial magnitude estimate from 6.7 to 6.5.
Authorities did not issue a tsunami alert following the quake. They did not also report any immediate casualties or damage.
“It was kind of strong, but it was quick. We saw the table and some of the lights shaking,” Santa Maria town rescue official Jerson Talahig told AFP.
On June 8, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported that the 7.8-magnitude earthquake took place at 7:37 a.m. local time, with its epicenter situated 13 kilometers southwest of General Santos City on Mindanao Island and a focal depth of 10 kilometers.
Meanwhile, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) warned that tsunami waves could reach up to 3 meters along parts of the Philippine coastline. At the same time, lower waves of up to 1 meter may also reach parts of Indonesia and Malaysia.
Moreover, the PTWC warned that smaller tsunami waves could also reach Taiwan, Japan, Guam, Papua New Guinea, and other Pacific Island nations and territories. It further confirmed that no tsunami threat has been issued for Hawaii or the US mainland.
Authorities reported no immediate casualties or major structural damage in the aftermath of the earthquake.
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