6.9 magnitude earthquake strikes off southern Philippines

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of the southern Philippines early Monday, confirmed the United States Geological Survey, the latest in a slew of strong quakes all concentrated in the same area.

Monday's quake hit just before 4:00 am local time, at a depth of 30 kilometres, about 72 kilometres northeast of Hinatuan municipality on Mindanao island. "The quake was brief, it lasted around six seconds, but the shaking was quite strong," said disaster officials.

That followed a magnitude 6.6 earthquake on Sunday and a deadly magnitude 7.6 quake Saturday in the same region, which had briefly triggered a tsunami alert.

At least two people were killed and several were injured after Saturday's quake, authorities said. It was followed by a series of aftershocks of magnitudes exceeding 6.0 through Sunday, according to the USGS.