Philippines: Magnitude-5.1 offshore earthquake occurs east of Mindanao Island at around 23:08 Dec. 7

A magnitude-5.1 earthquake occurred in the Philippine Sea off the east coast of Mindanao Island at around 23:08 Dec. 7. The epicenter was about 28 km (17 miles) east-northeast of Hinatuan, Caraga Region. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 22 km (14 miles), and light shaking was probably felt throughout parts of Caraga, Davao, and Northern Mindanao regions. The earthquake was likely another aftershock from the major magnitude-7.6 tremor that struck the region around 22:37 Dec. 2. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the latest earthquake. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Further light-to-moderate aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.