A strong earthquake and a series of aftershocks struck off the southern Philippines on Saturday, officials said, but they occurred at such great depths that their impact dissipated and there were no reports of casualties or damage. No tsunami warning was issued, Reuters reported. In just over an hour early on Saturday, an earthquake and two aftershocks recorded at magnitudes of 7.3 to 7.6 by the U.S. Geological Survey, at considerable depths of between 576 and 617 km (358 and 383 miles) southwest of Cotabato on Mindanao island. An aftershock of 6.2 magnitude was measured in the same area at 1:35 p.m. (0535 GMT) on Saturday, the USGS said, at a depth of 564 km (350 miles). The magnitude was initially reported at 6.7.
