5.7-Magnitude quake hits south Philippines

A moderate earthquake shook parts of southern Philippines on Sunday, sending panicky people to the streets, but there were no reports of damage.

The 5.7-magnitude quake struck around 10:38 a.m. local time and was centered some 6 kilometers northeast of La Paz township in Mindanao's Agusan del Sur, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and

Seismology (Phivolcs).

The temblor has a depth of focus of 11 kilometers, Phivolcs said.

Residents in several areas across the southern Philippine island had felt the tremor which lasted for over 15 seconds.

"I was inside my room when things began to suddenly move. I soon realized there was an earthquake," said Frederick Divino, a disc jockey for a music station in Davao City, over 200 kilometers south of the epicenter.

In San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, some 50 kilometers from La Paz, radioman Richard Grande said he was feeling dizzy due to the strong movement caused by the quake.

"The shaking lasted for almost a minute," Grande said.

Phivolcs said aftershocks are expected following the quake.

Source : XINHUA