MANILA, Philippines , 13 October (H.S.): A strong 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines early Monday, rattling a region still recovering from a powerful and deadly quake weeks earlier. The tremor, which the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported, hit at 1:05 AM local time on October 13 and was centered near the province of Cebu.

The quake was identified as the largest aftershock to date following the destructive 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck the region on September 30, 2025. That initial quake, which originated from the newly identified Bogo Bay Fault, resulted in at least 75 fatalities and caused widespread damage, displacing over 23,000 people.

While Monday’s aftershock was felt across Leyte and the Central Visayas region, there were no immediate reports of significant damage or additional casualties. The quake had a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, according to the USGS .

Since the mainshock in late September, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has recorded over 10,600 aftershocks, keeping residents on high alert. The consistent seismic activity underscores the volatility of the region, which lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of intense seismic and volcanic activity.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar