Austin vows aid following quake in Mindanao

United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III on Thursday committed to help the Philippines following the magnitude 6 earthquake that hit New Bataan in Davao de Oro on Wednesday night.

During his meeting with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. at the Palace, Austin said he was sorry to learn about the earthquake that jolted Mindanao.

"The damage was not significant, at least that’s what we understand. We’ve not heard of significant injuries being reported as well but we know how these things develop," Austin said.

"We stand ready to help in any way that we can and again, I think our aid  personnel are in the area and they stand ready to help to provide humanitarian assistance where and when possible. So please don’t hesitate to reach out," he added.

According to Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spokesperson Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, only minor damage was reported in the area.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the epicenter of the quake, which occurred at 6:44 p.m. on Wednesday, was located at 12 kilometers N 29° E of New Bataan.

It added that the quake occurred southeast of Compostela in Davao de Oro with a depth of 28 kilometers.

Citing PHIVOLCS’ data, Loy said at least 20 aftershocks were already recorded as of 5 a.m. on Thursday, ranging from magnitude 1.5 to 3.6. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News