6.0 Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Southern Philippines

An earthquake of 6.0-magnitude on the Richter scale hit the southern Philippines on Tuesday, reported the US Geological Survey.

The shallow quake struck at about 2:00 pm (0600 GMT). The epicenter of the quake was located a few kilometers from Maragusan municipality in the mountainous gold-mining province of Davao de Oro on Mindanao Island.

Experts say shallow earthquakes tend to cause more harm than deeper ones. But there were no reports of any major damage. The tremors of the quake lasted about 30 seconds. It was followed by aftershocks

Quakes are frequent occurrences in the Philippines, which sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an arc of intense seismic as well as volcanic activity. This region stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

The last major quake in the northern Philippines occurred in October last year. A 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit the mountain town of Dolores in Abra province, injuring several people, damaging buildings and cutting power to most of the region. In July 2022, a 7.0-magnitude quake in mountainous Abra led to landslides and ground fissures, killing 11 people and injuring several hundred.