Manila:
A highly effective magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off the Philippines on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) stated, as initial warnings about the threat of tsunamis have been lifted and with no quick reports of casualties or big harm.
The quake was at a depth of 65.6 km (40.76 miles), the USGS stated, with its epicentre in the Philippine Sea southeast of Davao City.
The Philippine national disaster agency had so far received no reports of casualties, injuries or big harm, administrator Ricardo Jalad stated.
“Looks like nothing scary happened, like a collapse of a building,” Jalad told reporters.
Airports, sea ports and essential infrastructure have been for the most aspect unaffected by the quake, when all personnel have been accounted for, the transport ministry stated.
A seldom-employed airport in southern Davao Oriental province had minor cracks on the runway, but there was no harm to the passenger terminal developing, it stated.
The Philippines’ seismology agency initially warned of the threat of harm, aftershocks and a tsunami, but it later stated information showed there was no threat of a destructive tsunami.
The U.S. National Weather Service and Hawaii Emergency Management also stated there was no threat of a tsunami for the U.S. West Coast or Hawaii.
The Philippines is on the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences frequent earthquakes.
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