A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao in southern Philippines early on Saturday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). 

The USGS reported that the earthquake's epicenter was at a depth of 17km and approximately 20km from the municipality of Barcelona, east of Mindanao Island.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) stated that it does not expect the earthquake to have caused significant damage but warned of possible aftershocks.

The Philippines experiences seismic activity almost daily as the archipelago is located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where tectonic plate interactions lead to significant seismic and volcanic activity.

While many earthquakes in the Philippines are too minor to be felt by residents, the country occasionally experiences severe and destructive quakes.

No tsunami warning has been issued.