Earthquake of magnitude 6.0 rocks southern Philippines
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The Philippines was rocked by a 6.0-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said. Local authorities also warned people of aftershocks and possible damage right after the quake hit. However, there are no reports of any casualties or damage.
The shallow quake struck at about 2:00 pm in the mountainous province of Davao de Oro on Mindanao island.
Warnings were issued since shallow quakes tend to cause more damage than deeper ones. However, no reports of any destruction have been received from the region yet.
However, a landslide was reported near a road, but it wasn't as serious and did not affect traffic or hurt anyone,Cherrylyn Dapiton of the Maragusan disaster office said.
The duration of the quake was about 30 seconds and it was followed by aftershocks, Corporal Stephanie Clemen told AFP.
"We immediately went under our desks and when the ground stopped shaking we went straight outside," Clemen told AFP."We are still outside because a moderate aftershock just hit."
Patients on beds or in wheelchairs could be seen outside a hospital in photos on the local government's Facebook page. They were all evacuates from the building when the quake hit.
Clemen said that even though the quake did not cause any damage, it was big enough to scare people.
Earthquakes are a common occurrence in the Philippines but aren't always felt by people. The countrysits along the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of intense seismic as well as volcanic activity. The "Ring of Fire" stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.
The Philippines witnessed two earthquakes last year. The first one was in October when a6.4-magnitude quake hit the mountain town of Dolores in Abra province. Several people were injured and it also damaged buildings and cut offpower to most of the region.
A 7.0-magnitude quake in mountainous Abra last July triggered landslides and ground fissures, killing 11 people and injuring hundreds.
(With inputs from agencies)
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