A magnitude 6.9 earthquake rattled the southern Mindanao region of the Philippines on Friday, the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) said. The quake struck off the shore of the Mindanao region at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), GFZ added. It was centered near the town of Matanao in the populated province of Davao, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. The quake was felt as far away as Manila, the capital of the archipelago nation, which has 22 million people living on its shores and sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” which is prone to seismic activity.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said there was no tsunami threat, but a 6.9-magnitude quake triggered waves that killed hundreds in the same area last year. The Philippine government has dispatched rescue workers to help search for survivors after the latest quake. One person was killed, and many buildings were destroyed, according to local media. Reuters news agency reported several strong aftershocks following the quake.
Quakes in the Philippines are common, as the country lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a ring of faults around the world that is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The region is also highly prone to floods caused by typhoons, which are frequent during the rainy season.
The USGS warned that the earthquake could cause landslides, common in the affected areas following previous quakes. The quake struck off the island of Masbate, a popular tourist destination in the archipelago.
An aftershock measuring 5.7 magnitude struck soon after the main quake, shaking houses and causing windows to shatter in the coastal city of General Santos. The quake also caused power cuts in the city. People posted pictures of fallen walls and electrical wires swaying. Passengers at an airport in the city were evacuated to the tarmac, said Michael Ricafort, who was about to board a flight to Manila when the tremors hit.
Philippine officials warned residents to brace for damage and aftershocks. A magnitude 6.7 earthquake that struck the same region in October last year killed at least 220 people, mostly from collapsed houses.
The government’s seismology office said that a strong earthquake of 5.3 magnitude rocked the central Philippines on Thursday, with some cities feeling moderately strong shaking. No casualties or severe damage were reported.
Video footage from the quake showed power lines falling and buildings shaking. A hospital was temporarily evacuated.
The Philippines is a poor country that is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. In 1990, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the main island of Luzon, killing more than 1,600 people in a single day.
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake in the same region in July 1990 wiped out most of the country’s capital, Manila. It destroyed much of the city’s old buildings, including the iconic ruins of the Spanish colonial-era cathedral. The quake’s aftermath was even more devastating because it was followed by a series of aftershocks that shook the city for weeks.