06 August,2026 10:22 AM IST | Manila | mid-day online correspondent
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A 6.3-magnitude offshore earthquake struck Davao Occidental province in the southern Philippines early Thursday, marking the second strong tremor to hit the region in less than 24 hours, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
The tectonic earthquake occurred at 5:41 a.m. local time at a depth of 10 km, with its epicentre located about 99 km southwest of Balut Island off the coast of Davao Occidental province, the institute said.
Thursday's earthquake followed another powerful offshore tremor that struck the same province on Wednesday. Phivolcs had reported that the earlier earthquake measured 6.4 in magnitude and occurred at 12:14 p.m. local time at a depth of 13 km.
The agency said there was no tsunami threat to the Philippines from Wednesday's earthquake. There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage following either of the two offshore tremors.
The back-to-back earthquakes have heightened concerns in the seismically active region, although authorities have not issued any major emergency alerts.
The GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences also recorded a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that jolted the Mindanao region at 04:14:09 GMT on Wednesday.
According to the German agency, the earthquake's epicentre was located at 5.37 degrees north latitude and 125.45 degrees east longitude, with a depth of 10 km.
Differences in magnitude and timing between international and national agencies are common, as seismic organisations use different monitoring networks and analytical methods to calculate earthquake parameters.
The Philippines experiences frequent earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and occasional tsunamis because it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a vast belt of seismic and volcanic activity that surrounds much of the Pacific Ocean.
The country's location on several active fault lines and tectonic plate boundaries makes it one of the world's most earthquake-prone nations, with tremors of varying intensity occurring regularly throughout the year.
Authorities routinely monitor seismic activity and issue advisories to help communities prepare for potential aftershocks and other related hazards.
The latest earthquakes come just weeks after a powerful earthquake struck the nearby island of Mindanao on June 8, causing widespread destruction.
The earlier quake led to the collapse of buildings, triggered landslides and claimed at least 76 lives, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes to hit the region in recent months.
According to reports, the June earthquake also shifted the Cotabato Trench and raised sections of the seabed by as much as two metres, causing significant damage to coral reefs and adversely affecting marine ecosystems.
Authorities continue to closely monitor seismic activity in the region for any aftershocks or further developments following the latest offshore earthquakes.
(With inputs from IANS)
