Philippines Hit by Another Strong Earthquake Weeks After Deadly Quake Killed over 80

The southern Philippines was shaken by another powerful earthquake on Friday, just 18 days after a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the same region, killing at least 81 people and injuring more than 1,000, according to the country’s civil defense agency.

The 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck near Balut Island in Davao Occidental, on the southern island of Mindanao. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), approximately 90 kilometers southwest of Balut Island. Authorities said aftershocks are expected, but no tsunami threat was issued.

As of Friday evening, there were no immediate reports of deaths, injuries or significant damage from the latest earthquake. Officials continue to assess affected areas while monitoring for possible aftershocks.

The latest tremor comes less than three weeks after the June 8 magnitude 7.8 earthquake, one of the strongest to strike the Philippines in decades. That disaster caused widespread destruction across Mindanao, triggering building collapses, landslides and a small tsunami. Rescue operations continued for days as emergency teams searched for survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures.