6.0 quake batters southern Philippines

An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale rocked Davao Oriental province in southern Philippines on Thursday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

In a report, the Phivolcs said the quake struck at 11:53 am 51 km southeast of Tarragona, a town in Davao Oriental with a depth of 28 km.

The tremor, which was tectonic in origin, is not expected to cause damage, reports Xinhua quoting Phivolcs.

The report said aftershocks are expected.

Meanwhile, the US Geological Survey said the 5.9-magnitude quake was felt in Davao, Hinatuan and General Santos, all in the Philippines and as far as Koror in Palau.