A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the southern Philippines island of Mindanao on Monday, according to the Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Authorities said the tremor occurred offshore and is not expected to cause significant damage.

Offshore quake near Davao Oriental

The earthquake hit around 164 km south-east of Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental province. It had a depth of 86 km, Phivolcs said, indicating a relatively deep seismic event that typically reduces surface impact.

Officials confirmed that the quake originated along the Philippines Trench, a major tectonic boundary in the region.

No expected major damage

Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said there was no immediate expectation of serious damage or aftershocks affecting populated areas. Early assessments suggested the deep offshore location limited its impact on land.

Not linked to earlier deadly quake

Authorities also clarified that the tremor is unrelated to the powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao on 8 June, which was centred more than 250 km away.

That earlier quake caused widespread devastation, with the civil defence agency reporting 65 deaths and at least 36 people still missing.

Ongoing monitoring

Seismologists continue to monitor the region for aftershocks and further seismic activity, as the Philippines sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, making it highly prone to earthquakes and volcanic events.

(with inputs from Reuters)