Quake strikes Philippines

A STRONG earthquake and a series of aftershocks struck off the southern Philippines yesterday.

A tsunami warning was issued, but scientist believe the quake occurred so far down on the seabed that its impact has been dissipated. There were no reports of casualties or damage.

In just over an hour early yesterday, an earthquake and two aftershocks recorded at magnitudes of 7.3 to 7.6 by the US Geological Survey, at considerable depths around 400 miles south-west of Cotabato on Mindanao island. An aftershock of 6.2 magnitude was measured six hours later.

"We expect these aftershocks, but we don't expect them to cause any damage," said Renato Solidum, head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.