5.8 quake rocks northern Philippines: USGS

A moderate 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Batan Islands region of the northern Philippines today, seismologists said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

A moderate 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Batan Islands region of the northern Philippines today, seismologists said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

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The quake hit at 4:20 am (local time yesterday) at a shallow depth of just 4.2 kilometres, 29 km east of Itbayat, the US Geological Survey said. The USGS initially measured the quake at 6.1.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake was felt in some parts of the sparsely populated and remote region and it had recorded two aftershocks, though no damage was expected.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.