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November 30, 2011
. An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale has hit off the Philippines’ main island of Luzon, according to Philippine seismologists.
The quake occurred at 8:26 am local time Wednesday, the seismologists said.
The undersea quake’s epicenter was off the western coast of the northern province of Zambales, about 230 kilometers (142 miles) northwest of the capital, Manila, AFP reported.
No casualties have been reported and no tsunami warning has yet been issued by local authorities.
“This won’t cause much damage because this is far from land,” said Renato Solidum, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
The institute added, however, that aftershocks are expected.
The Philippines lies in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire — an area where continental plates collide, causing frequent quakes and volcanic activities.