A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck Mindanao in the Philippines on Tuesday, according to Germany’s GFZ geoscience centre. The quake, which originated at a depth of 10 km, was centred at 6.31°N and 126.29°E.
The tremor comes a little over a month after the region experienced two major offshore earthquakes that triggered tsunami warnings and forced thousands to evacuate. On October 10, a powerful 7.4-magnitude quake off Manay in Davao Oriental set off tsunami alerts for coastal areas within 300 km. Although the warnings were lifted, a second quake—measuring 6.8—hit the same area seven hours later, leading to fresh advisories. Phivolcs cautioned that waves exceeding one metre above normal tides were possible and urged residents to move to higher ground.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology described the two quakes as a “doublet,” meaning separate but related tremors occurring along the same fault zone. Initial reports pointed to damage to houses, buildings, and bridges, while at least seven people were confirmed dead. The Philippines, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic activity, recording more than 800 earthquakes each year.
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