Strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes off the coast of Negros Occidental
A strong earthquake hit off the coast of the island of Negros Occidental in the western Visayas of the Philippines Thursday evening at 6:16 pm, according to the Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Image/Phivolcs
The powerful quake struck in the Sulu Sea, 76 kilometers southwest of the city of Hinoba-an at a magnitude of 6.3. It was felt at Intensity V in Hinoba-an and Sipalay in the province.
Edmundo Vilches, an official at the civil defence office for the region, said their Negros staff had not reported any casualties or damage, according to an AFP report. The USGS measured the temblor at 6.2 magnitude.
Phivolcs says aftershocks are expected.
According to the Richter magnitude scale, an earthquake that registers at 6.0-6.9 is considered strong. It can be destructive in areas up to about 160 kilometers (99 mi) across in populated areas. There are only approximately 130 earthquakes of this magnitude seen annually across the globe.
The Philippines lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, which causes the country to have frequent seismic and volcanic activity. Much larger numbers of earthquakes of smaller magnitude occur very regularly due to the meeting of major tectonic plates in the region.
