Powerful 6.7 magnitude earthquake jolts waters off southern Philippines

Manila (Web Desk): A powerful 6.7-magnitude earthquake rattled areas off the coast of Davao Oriental in the southern Philippines on Wednesday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology confirmed. 

The agency said the tremor struck at 11:02am local time and originated 42 kilometers beneath the surface, with the epicenter positioned around 47 kilometers from the coastal town of Manay.

Residents across the island reported feeling the ground shake. Officials warned that the quake is likely to be followed by aftershocks and could cause damage, particularly in locations close to where it originated.

The country regularly experiences earthquakes because it sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly active zone where major tectonic plates meet, making the region vulnerable to seismic and volcanic events.