Magnitude 6.5 quake hits off southern Philippines

The quake struck at 7:42 p.m. at a depth of 52.4 kilometers in the waters about 35 kilometers southwest of Mindanao island's Jose Abad Santos town, according to the United States Geological Survey, which revised the magnitude from an initial 6.7. No tsunami alert was issued.

Santa Maria town rescue official Jerson Talahig told AFP there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

"It was kind of strong, but it was quick. We saw the table and some of the lights shaking," he said.

The 7.8-magnitude tremor that hit Mindanao on June 8 brought down buildings, triggered landslides and displaced thousands on the southern island, while also setting off tsunami warnings across the region.

The powerful quake forced the seabed upwards by two meters on a long stretch of the coast, pushing previously submerged coral above the water and extending the shoreline by as much as 200 meters in a geological phenomenon known as "coastal uplift."

A series of strong aftershocks rocked the area from about two hours after the first quake, including a 6.5 magnitude tremor. As of Friday, the June 8 quake had killed 81 people and injured more than 1,300.

People collect their belongings from a damaged house following an earthquake off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao that was also felt in North Tabukan, Sangihe Islands regency, North Sulawesi province, Indonesia, June 8, 2026. Photo by Reuters

Earthquakes are a near-daily occurrence in the Philippines, which is situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of intense seismic activity stretching from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

The Cotabato Trench, which lies as close as 50 kilometers off the coast of southern Mindanao, is the site of frequent seismic activity, including a "swarm" of thousands of mostly small earthquakes recorded in January.