Magnitude 6.7 quake hits off southern Philippines

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the coast of the southern Philippines on January 9, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the coast of the southern Philippines on January 9, the U.S. Geological Survey said, but according to local authorities there were no reports of casualties or damage.

The quake struck at a depth of 70 kilometres (43 miles) about 100 kilometres southeast of Sarangani municipality off Mindanao island, the USGS said.

It did not trigger a tsunami alert, according to the U.S. Tsunami Warning System and the Philippine seismological agency.

"By the grace of God it was not that strong in our province," said Chief Master Sergeant Ian Roy Balandan of the Sarangani provincial police office on Mindanao.

Mr. Balandan told AFP there had been no reports of casualties or damage to infrastructure or houses.

"It was really mild. People hardly felt it," he said.

Harly Sauro, a disaster official in Sarangani municipality, which is a small group of islands that forms part of Davao Occidental province, said the quake had not caused any damage or casualties, but "did disturb some people from their sleep".