6.3-magnitude earthquake hits off southern Philippines: USGS

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake jolted the southern Philippines on Wednesday, August 5, the United States Geological Survey reported. The seismic event occurred at 12:14 PM, with its epicenter situated 32 kilometers southwest of the small island of Sarangani. Fortunately, the earthquake did not generate a tsunami warning, and initial reports indicated no immediate casualties or significant damage.

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The shaking was quite strong. I saw people in panic. They were running and shouting.

However, the tremor caused considerable alarm, particularly on Sarangani Island. Harly Sauro, a rescuer on the island, described the shaking as "quite strong" and witnessed widespread panic. "I saw people in panic. They were running and shouting," Sauro told AFP. The earthquake struck at a moment when a large crowd had gathered at a local court to receive financial subsidies from the government.

Despite the chaos, Sauro expressed optimism regarding the impact. "The earthquake came while the local government was giving a financial subsidy, so there were many people at the court, but everyone's safe," he stated. "Based on our assessment and experience, we don't think there will be casualties or damage." The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center recorded the earthquake at a depth of 62 kilometers.

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The earthquake came while the local government was giving a financial subsidy, so there were many people at the court, but everyone's safe.

This recent earthquake follows a more devastating event on June 8, when a powerful tremor on the nearby island of Mindanao caused widespread destruction, toppling buildings, triggering landslides, and resulting in at least 76 fatalities. The earlier earthquake significantly altered the seabed, raising it by up to two meters and impacting marine ecosystems. The Philippines, located on the volatile Pacific "Ring of Fire," experiences frequent seismic activity.

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Based on our assessment and experience, we don't think there will be casualties or damage.