A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippines early Saturday but there was no threat of a tsunami.

A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippines early Saturday but there was no threat of a tsunami, US seismologists said.

The offshore quake hit at 6:53 am (2253 GMT Friday) and was centered around 100 kilometers (63 miles) southeast of the city of Davao on the island of Mindanao at a depth of 62 kilometers, according to the US Geological Survey.

Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the tremor was strong enough to wake sleeping people.

“But we don’t expect significant damage,” due to its depth, he told DZMM radio station.

A milder aftershock was detected shortly after the first tremor, the institute said.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat from the strong quake.

In its preliminary impact assessment, the USGS said there was a low likelihood of casualties and damage from the tremor.

The Philippines is regularly hit by quakes due to its location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where tectonic plates collide.

[vuukle]

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