7.3 magnitude quake hits Philippines

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake has struck the Philippines’ Moro Gulf.

The epicenter of the quake, which occurred at 6:08 a.m. local time on Saturday (2208 GMT Friday), was 106 kilometers (66 miles) off the coastal city of Cotabato, Mindanao, and 923 kilometers (573 miles) southeast of Manila.

The underwater quake struck at a depth of 595 km (361 miles).

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the temblor was an aftershock of an earlier earthquake. The initial quake that preceded the aftershock had a magnitude of 6.9, the USGS said.

The USGS initially announced that the aftershock had a magnitude of 7.5.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no tsunami was generated by the quake.

No damage reports have been issued so far.

The Philippines’ location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and its tropical climate make the archipelago prone to earthquakes and typhoons.

Around 20 earthquakes are registered daily in the Philippines, though most are too weak to be felt.

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