MANILA (AFP) - A STRONG 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the Philippines early on Thursday, seismologists said, but it was at a depth of 582km and no tsunami warning was issued.

The quake was in the Celebes Sea, 320km south of Zamboanga, in Mindanao, in the south of the country, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre did not issue a tsunami alert after the quake, which hit at 5.41am (2141 GMT Wednesday, 5.41am Singapore time).

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