MANILA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit off Davao Occidental province in the southern Philippines late Saturday.
The institute said the earthquake occurred at 10:58 p.m. local time at a depth of 10 km, with the epicenter about 315 km southeast of Balut Island in the municipality of Sarangani.
The institute said the earthquake is not expected to generate aftershocks or cause damage.
The Philippines experiences frequent seismic activity due to its location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a zone of major tectonic plate boundaries known for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. ■
