5.9-Magnitude Offshore Earthquake Jolts Southern Philippines

Earthquake

MANILA, Apr 19 (NNN-PNA) – An offshore earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9, jolted Davao Oriental province, in the southern Philippines today, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

The institute said, the quake, which occurred at 9:23 a.m. local time, hit at a depth of 49 kilometres, about 54 kilometers south-east of Manay town, in the province.

The institute said, the tectonic quake will trigger aftershocks and can cause damages.

The Philippines has frequent seismic activities, due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, characterised by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.