6.1-magnitude earthquake hits central Philippines

MANILA: An offshore earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 rocked Eastern Samar province in the central Philippines on Thursday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

The institute said the quake, which occurred at 2:50 p.m. local time (GMT 0650), hit at a depth of 48 km, about 51 km northeast of Hernani town.

The institute said the tectonic quake could trigger aftershocks and cause damage. There are no immediate reports of damage or injury.

The tremor was also felt strongly in nearby areas, including in the provinces of Northern Samar, Leyte, and Southern Leyte.

The archipelagic country has frequent seismic activities due to its location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”