Manila: A magnitude 6.1 earthquake shook provinces southeast of Manila in the early hours of Thursday, with the epicentre detected off Masbate island, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
The shaking was violent enough to wake people up from their sleep and was felt across a wide swathe of the country. It reportedly triggered power outages in certain towns in Sorsogon.
Initial reports show some local structures sustaining damage, but the extent of the damage was not immediately clear. No tsunami warning was issued.
The shallow quake struck the Masbate island province in the eastern part of the archipelagic nation.
Philvolcs reported the quake's Magnitude at 5.7.
The earthquake struck around 2.10 am (10:10 pm, UAE) at a depth of 10km east of Batuan town, according to Phivolcs.
The epicenter was identified as the waters between Masbate and Sorsogon provinces, in the Bicol region.
The tremors were felt in neighbouring central Visayas region, as well as the provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur.
Earlier, a magnitude 4.8 quake was detected on Wednesday at 5.18 pm in the same area, Phivolcs reported. The Philippines lies in the the so-called “ring of fire” often beset by quakes and strong typhoons.
