Magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits southern Philippines

MANILA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 struck Zamboanga del Norte province in the southern Philippines on Thursday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported.

The institute said the quake, which occurred at 11:41 a.m. local time, hit at a depth of 32 km, about 2 km southeast of Siocon town.

The institute warned that the tectonic quake will trigger aftershocks and cause damage.

There were no reports of major casualties or damage.

Earlier Thursday, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck Southern Leyte province in the central Philippines at 7:39 a.m. local time.

The tremor, which hit at a depth of 14 km, 6 km southeast of San Francisco town, caused minor road damages in the area.

The archipelagic Philippines has frequent seismic activities due to its location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire." ■