On Friday, a powerful magnitude 6.7 earthquake hit the southern part of the Philippines, causing one fatality, injuring dozens of people, and causing damage to buildings, as reported by authorities.
The quake befell off Mindanao island at a intensity of 60 km (37.3 miles), according to the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ).
Angel Dugaduga, a disaster response official in the coastal town of Glan near the epicenter, shared that one person had lost their life and 18 others were injured based on initial reports.
The municipal office building and gymnasium in the town sustained damage, and the quake had knocked out electricity, added Dugaduga.
It’s worth noting that earthquakes are a common incidence in the Philippines, located on the "Ring of Fire," a place with a high degree of volcanic and seismic interest encircling the Pacific Ocean.
Despite the intensity of the earthquake, both the Philippine seismology agency PHIVOLCS and the Pacific Tsunamic Warning Center reassured that a tsunami was not expected.
Amor Mio, the police chief of nearby Koronadal city, mentioned that, fortunately, there were no reports of casualties in their area. However, officials were checking on a shopping mall that was reportedly damaged during the quake.
The incident serves as a reminder of the continued seismic danger in this geologically energetic vicinity.
