Major quake hits Mindanao

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 struck under the Celebes Sea off Mindanao on Tuesday  but was far too deep to cause any damage and casualties or generate a tsunami.

Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake, which was set off by movement of oceanic plates 625 kilometers under the seabed, was slightly felt in General Santos City  at Intensity 2. The tremor was also felt in the cities of Zamboanga, Davao, Mati and Tagum.

The quake was centered at 223 km southeast of Sulu, he said.—AP AND KARLOS MANLUPIG