MANILA, Philippines - Three major earthquakes struck the southern part of the Philippines on Saturday morning, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported.
The USGS said the quakes happened in succession, with the first striking at 6:08 a.m. The next 2 tremors happened at 6:51 a.m. and 7:15 a.m.
It said the first quake, which was tectonic in origin, had a magnitude of 7.3. It added that the quake was 604.5 kilometers deep.
In an interview over radio dzMM, Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that the actual magnitude of the quake was 6.9.
Solidum said the quake's epicenter was traced at 94 kilometers southeast off Cotabato City. He said the quake's depth was 606 kilometers.
He clarified that the USGS's report was just a preliminary estimate.
"They made a high estimate," the Phivolcs chief said in Filipino over radio dzMM.
Solidum said that according to initial reports received from local Phivolcs stations, the quake was felt at Intensity 2 in Surigao and General Santos cities.
An ABS-CBN Regional Network Group said the earthquake was also felt at Intensity 2 in Butuan, Davao and Cagayan de Oro cities.
He said they expect to receive more reports. He added that a large part of Mindanao, and even parts of Visayas, may have slightly felt the earthquake and its aftershocks.
He said they do not expect major damages from the earthquake because of its depth.
Solidum added that the earthquake will not cause a tsunami.
During Solidum's radio interview, the USGS flashed the second earthquake report. It said the quake that struck at 6:51 a.m. measured at magnitude 7.6 at 115 kilometers off Cotabato City.
The USGS said the third quake was still strong at magnitude 7.4. It was traced at 120 kilometers off Pagadian City.
The last 2 earthquakes' depth were 576.3 kilometers and 616.7 kilometers, respectively, according to the USGS.
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