Local tsunami alert in 6.7 earthquake off Philippines

According to the U.S. Geological Survey USGS and a local monitoring service,one child died and a local tsunami alert was issued after a magnitude 6.7 earthquake followed by two aftershocks struck off the Philippines island of Negros today.

• The Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said it warned residents along coastal areas to be on the watch for unusual waves as it raised a tsunami alert at level 2.
• The institute also warned structurally weak buildings may sustain damages.The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that based on all available data a Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected.
• The quake,with depth of about 10 kms 6.2 miles, according to the institute, and centered just 5 kms off the shore of Tayasan, Negros Oriental, was felt at intensity 7 in Dumaguete City and intensity 6 in Bacolod City, according to the institute.
• The USGS put the quake at 6.7 in magnitude and a depth of 12.4 miles.Two aftershocks, of 4.8 and 5.6 magnitude on the USGS scale, followed within 30 minutes of the earthquake.
• "Damage is possible in areas hit by at least intensity 5 and if the buildings are structurally weak," Renato Solidum, head of the volcanology and seismology institute said in a radio interview.