6.3 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Philippines, USGS Says

There has been no further information so far concerning possible damage, while media reports say the quake was not likely to cause a tsunami.

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake has been registered near the Philippine city of Calatagan, the US Geological Survey said on Friday.

According to the USGS, the quake was recorded 2.3 kilometres (over 1 mile) northwest of Calatagan on the island of Luzon. The epicentre was located at a depth of 114 kilometres.

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Earthquakes starting with a 6.0 magnitude are considered "strong", according to the Richter magnitude scale, and are likely to cause moderate to strong damage to poor structures in the area.

The Philippines is actually located in a seismologically active zone, more known as the Ring of Fire, and often suffers from powerful earthquakes. The archipelago lies along the border between the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian plate, which are colliding and increasing the seismological activity in the area.

The 1976 Moro Gulf earthquake, which caused a powerful tsunami, is the deadliest recorded earthquake in the history of the Philippines, which left from 5,000 to 8,000 people dead.