6.7-magnitude earthquake strikes near Baculin, Philippines
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The earthquake struck at a depth of 10km on Jan 7.
PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
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MANILA - A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the Philippines’ southern islands on Jan 7, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, and there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
USGS said the quake struck at a depth of 10km around 68km east of Baculin, a village in the southern town of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur province.
Philippine seismology agency Phivolcs, which measured the tremor at 6.4-magnitude and depth of 23km, warned of damage and aftershocks.
Police and disaster officials near the quake’s epicentre said there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from the earthquake.
“It was not that strong, but people rushed outside,” said Hinatuan local police chief Joey Monato.
Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said by phone that the earthquake’s epicentre was situated less than 10km from where a pair of strong earthquakes hit in October, killing seven people.
He said tsunami warnings were unlikely from the tremor on Jan 7.
“It will not generate destructive tsunami waves because it’s deep,” he said by phone.
The Philippines is in the Pacific Ring of Fire, where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common. REUTERS
