The earthquake occurred at 7:42 p.m. local time (1142 GMT) at a depth of 65.7 km (41 miles), with its epicenter located about 21 km southwest of the town of Sarangani on Mindanao island, according to the USGS.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage following the quake. Authorities also issued no tsunami warning, indicating that the earthquake was not expected to generate hazardous sea waves.

Data shared by earthquake monitoring platform GlobalQuake indicated that approximately 6.4 million people experienced the tremor, with an estimated 168,100 people located in areas where shaking was strongest. The figures were preliminary and had not been independently verified by Philippine authorities.

The latest earthquake struck in one of the world’s most seismically active regions. The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a vast arc of seismic faults and volcanoes where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur frequently due to the movement of tectonic plates.

The tremor comes less than three weeks after a major earthquake struck the same part of the southern Philippines, leaving more than 80 people dead and highlighting the region’s continued vulnerability to seismic hazards.

A routine limestone extraction operation at a quarry in Spain led to the discovery of an extensive fossil reef, providing scientists with a rare opportunity to study the remains of an ancient marine ecosystem preserved within rock formations for millions of years.

The discovery was made in 2021 when quarry workers preparing a section of limestone for blasting cut into rock layers that revealed unusual fossil structures. What initially appeared to be ordinary geological formations soon attracted scientific attention as researchers identified them as remnants of a fossilized reef created in a long-vanished sea.

The exposed reef offers valuable insight into environmental conditions that existed during a period when much of the region was submerged beneath marine waters. Scientists say such fossil reefs serve as important records of ancient biodiversity, helping researchers reconstruct prehistoric climates, sea levels and ecological relationships.

Unlike isolated fossil finds, reef structures preserve entire communities of marine organisms and their interactions. The Spanish discovery is particularly significant because the quarrying process exposed a large section of the reef, allowing researchers to examine its structure in exceptional detail.

Geologists note that fossil reefs are formed when marine organisms such as corals and other reef-building species create complex underwater frameworks. Over time, sediments accumulate around these structures and eventually become buried beneath successive layers of rock. As geological processes reshape landscapes over millions of years, these ancient reefs may become preserved within limestone deposits.

The limestone exposed at the Spanish quarry originated from sediments deposited in a prehistoric marine environment. Scientists believe the fossil reef developed during a period when warm, shallow seas covered parts of what is now the Iberian Peninsula.

Researchers examining the site have focused on documenting the reef’s physical characteristics and identifying the organisms responsible for its formation. Such studies can reveal information about ocean chemistry, biological diversity and environmental stability during the period in which the reef existed.

Fossil reefs are regarded as particularly important by paleontologists because they provide evidence of how marine ecosystems responded to changing environmental conditions over geological timescales. Understanding these ancient systems can help scientists place modern ecological changes within a broader historical context.

The discovery also highlights the role industrial activities can occasionally play in advancing scientific knowledge. Mining, quarrying and construction projects frequently expose rock formations that would otherwise remain inaccessible, creating opportunities for unexpected geological and paleontological discoveries.

According to researchers, careful examination of newly exposed fossil sites is essential because quarry operations can reveal information that may never have been observed through conventional field surveys. In some cases, significant discoveries emerge only moments before rock layers are removed or altered by industrial processes.

The Spanish fossil reef represents one such case, transforming a routine day of quarry operations into a scientifically valuable event. The exposure has provided researchers with direct access to evidence of an ancient marine environment that existed long before the modern landscape took shape.

Scientists continue to analyze the reef and its surrounding rock layers in hopes of better understanding the ecosystem it once supported. The findings may contribute to broader research into the geological history of the region and the evolution of marine life in prehistoric seas.

As investigations continue, the fossil reef stands as a reminder that significant chapters of Earth’s history often remain hidden beneath familiar landscapes, waiting to be revealed through chance discoveries and scientific inquiry.

New research has identified an active fault south of Auckland capable of generating a significant earthquake, prompting renewed scrutiny of the seismic risks facing New Zealand’s largest city and raising questions about recent decisions to exempt the region from certain earthquake-strengthening requirements.

The study, published in the New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, found that the Mangatangi Fault, located in the Hunua Ranges about 50 kilometers southeast of central Auckland, has ruptured within the past 10,000 years. Researchers estimate the fault could generate an earthquake of up to magnitude 6.8 if it were to rupture along its full length.

The findings challenge a long-standing perception that Auckland faces relatively low earthquake risk compared with other parts of New Zealand. While the city remains less exposed to major seismic hazards than many regions further south, scientists say the research highlights significant gaps in understanding Auckland’s geological history.

Dr. James Muirhead, a senior lecturer in geology at the University of Auckland and a co-author of the study, said the consequences of a major rupture could be severe for communities in southern parts of the city and potentially beyond.“If the whole fault ruptured, there would likely be serious consequences for people living in South Auckland, and possibly further into central Auckland as well,” Muirhead said.

The research marks the first time a fault in the Auckland region or the Hunua Ranges has been dated using radiocarbon techniques to determine when it last moved. Scientists classify a fault as active if it has ruptured within the past 125,000 years.According to Muirhead, the study demonstrates how little is currently known about the seismic history of the Auckland region and underscores the need for further investigation into local fault systems.

New Zealand lies along the boundary between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates, making it one of the world’s most seismically active countries. The country records approximately 20,000 earthquakes annually, although only around 250 are generally strong enough to be felt by residents.Some earthquakes have had devastating consequences.

The 2011 Christchurch earthquake, which measured magnitude 6.3, killed 185 people and caused widespread destruction across the city’s central business district.Historically, most significant earthquakes in New Zealand have occurred in the South Island and the lower North Island. Auckland experiences occasional minor tremors but has generally been regarded as having a lower probability of damaging earthquakes.

That assessment played a role in policy discussions over earthquake-prone buildings. In 2023, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown argued that the city’s low seismic risk justified changes to national building regulations. He cited the absence of evidence for major earthquakes affecting Auckland over a period of approximately 100,000 years.

The government subsequently announced in 2025 that Auckland would be exempt from earthquake-prone building rules, meaning many structures in the city would not be required to undergo costly seismic strengthening.The new findings have prompted some researchers to question whether the current regulatory framework fully reflects the region’s geological realities.

Muirhead said additional research is needed before drawing firm conclusions about whether existing legislation should be revised. While future investigations could ultimately show the risk is lower than currently estimated, they could also reveal that Auckland faces a greater hazard than previously believed.“We could see that the risk is actually lower than what we think right now, but we could also collect data and find actually it’s a little bit higher, and at that stage we should really think about whether we have the right legislation for buildings in the city,” he said.

Scientists caution that a single study is unlikely to dramatically alter Auckland’s position within New Zealand’s national seismic hazard assessments. The country’s seismic hazard model, updated by GNS Science in 2022, continues to show that Auckland faces lower levels of earthquake shaking risk than many other regions.

Anna Kaiser, chief scientist for earthquake hazards at Earth Sciences New Zealand, said the study is nevertheless valuable because it contributes important local data that can be incorporated into future hazard assessments.According to Kaiser, the findings improve understanding of Auckland’s geological environment and help refine long-term risk models. She emphasized the importance of preparedness and evidence-based planning rather than alarm.

The government has indicated that it will review emerging scientific findings as more information becomes available. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk said the new research would be considered as part of ongoing assessments, but stressed that one study alone does not justify an immediate change in regulatory settings.

Mayor Brown rejected suggestions that the findings significantly alter Auckland’s risk profile. In comments responding to the study, he argued that the geological conditions beneath much of Auckland differ from those surrounding the fault zone identified by researchers.Scientists involved in the study say further investigations are now needed to determine whether other faults in and around Auckland may also be active.

They argue that building a more complete picture of the region’s seismic history is essential for informed urban planning and risk management in a metropolitan area that is home to more than one-third of New Zealand’s population.

For researchers, the objective is not only to better understand Auckland’s geological past but also to ensure that future planning decisions are guided by the most comprehensive evidence available, helping reduce the potential impact of any major earthquake that could occur in the region.

The quake hit at 8:42 p.m. local time (1612 GMT) at a depth of 186 km, with its epicentre in Badakhshan Province, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Afghanistan’s health ministry said the fatalities occurred in the Gosfand Dara area of Kabul Province, where a single family was buried under the impact of the tremor. “Eight members of a family died as a result of the earthquake,” ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman said in a statement.

He added that a child, estimated to be around two years old, survived but was injured. The country’s disaster management agency confirmed the child had sustained injuries during the incident.

Journalists reported that the tremors were felt in Kabul and other parts of the country, though no immediate wider casualty figures were released.

Afghanistan lies along the seismically active Hindu Kush region, where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates converge, making earthquakes a frequent occurrence.

The latest quake follows a series of deadly seismic events in recent years, including an August tremor that killed more than 2,200 people in eastern Afghanistan after devastating remote mountain communities.