A significant magnitude-6.0 earthquake struck just off the coast of the southern Philippines late Saturday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The latest tremor adds to the anxiety in a region still recovering from two even more powerful quakes just a day earlier. The new seismic event raises urgent questions for residents and authorities already on high alert.
What Happened in Philippines?
The United States Geological Survey reported the earthquake occurred at a depth of 59 kilometers (approximately 37 miles). Its epicenter was located about 10 kilometers from Cagwait town in the province of Surigao del Sur. The quake’s relatively deep focus can sometimes influence the pattern of shaking felt on the ground. Initial accounts from the area confirm the force was intensely felt by those on the coast.
Was This a Standalone Event or an Aftershock?
This is the critical question seismologists are now working to answer. It is not yet clear if this 6.0-magnitude quake was an aftershock of the major tremors that struck on Friday. Those earlier quakes, a massive 7.4 magnitude event followed by a 6.8 magnitude tremor, occurred off Manay town in the Mindanao region. Teresito Bacolcol, chief of the Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology, confirmed the second major quake was on the same fault line, the Philippine Trench.
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What Was the Immediate Impact?
Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of casualties from the Saturday night quake. Cagwait Fire Officer Arnel Besinga described the sudden, intense shaking to AFP. “The duration of the quake was not that long, just around 30 seconds but it was so sudden and so strong. Our pots here in the fire station fell in our kitchen,” he said. However, a full assessment of potential damage was hampered by the darkness, with rescue teams waiting for daylight to conduct a thorough survey.
A Region Already Reeling
The context of this latest quake is a series of devastating seismic events. The Friday quakes, which prompted tsunami warnings and caused landslides, killed at least eight people. This tragic series comes just days after a separate magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu province in the central Philippines claimed 75 lives and injured over 1,200. The nation is dealing with the cumulative impact of these back-to-back disasters.
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Why Is the Philippines So Prone to Earthquakes?
The Philippines’ location makes it highly vulnerable to seismic activity. The archipelago nation sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a massive horseshoe-shaped arc known for intense geologic activity. Given the ongoing shifting and colliding of tectonic plates beneath the surface, this region is known for its many volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. Unfortunately, the country experiences earthquakes almost every day.
Disclaimer: This report is based on initial information from official sources and may be updated as new details emerge.
