Major Earthquake in Philippines-No casualties reported so far but potential damage is feared.

Manila, Philippines: A strong magnitude 6.7 earthquake shook the southern Philippines on Friday, the US Geological Survey said, with local authorities warning of potential damage.

However, the US Geological Survey said that the quake measured magnitude 6.7 and was located 26 kilometers (16 miles) from Burias at the southern tip of the Philippines. It added there was a low likelihood of casualties and damage.

The Philippines experiences regular earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire," an arc of seismic faults around the ocean, reported news agency Associated Press.

Amor Mio, police chief of Koronadal city, near the quake's epicentre, said there were no reports of casualties but officials were checking a shopping mall reported to have been damaged

"The employees were ordered evacuated for their safety. According to police in the area, there was extensive damage but we could not ascertain definitely yet the extent," Reuters quoted Mio as saying by telephone.

As per Philippine seismology agency PHIVOLCS director Teresito Bacolco, reported DZRH radio, that earthquake lasted several second and advised residents to be on alert for aftershocks as strong as magnitude 6.2.

Radio announcer Leny Aranego in General Santos city said the quake damaged walls and toppled computers from desks.

"We saw how the walls cracked and computers fell," Aranego told DZRH radio station.

No tsunami threat was issued after the quake struck off Sarangani province on the main southern island of Mindanao at a depth of 78 kilometres (48 miles) at 0814 GMT, the USGS said in a statement.

There were no immediate reports of casualties but the quake was felt across a wide area of the mountainous island.