DAVAO ORIENTAL, Philippines, June 15 (STL.News) – A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday, according to the state seismology agency, Phivolcs. The tremor occurred 164 kilometers southeast of Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental province at a depth of 86 kilometers.
State seismologists reported that the earthquake originated along the Philippine Trench. Due to the significant depth of the event, authorities confirmed that no damage is expected in the region. There have been no reports of structural failures or casualties resulting from this specific seismic activity.
The tremor is unrelated to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that impacted Mindanao on June 8. Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol explained the geological distinction during a radio interview.
“Monday’s quake originated along the Philippine Trench and is not connected to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao on June 8, with its epicentre more than 250 km away,” said Bacolcol.
The previous disaster on June 8 remains a major focus for emergency responders. The country’s civil defense agency reported that the death toll from that powerful event has risen to 65, with 36 individuals still missing. Search and recovery operations for the victims of the earlier earthquake continue across the affected areas.
The Philippine archipelago remains a highly active seismic zone, situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire. While the deep origin of Monday’s quake mitigated its surface impact, the region remains under close observation by state monitoring agencies for any further geological developments.
