6.1-magnitude earthquake strikes central Philippines

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Eastern Samar Province in the central Philippines, at 2:09 p.m. local time on Monday, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

The epicenter, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 11.76 degrees north latitude and 125.37 degrees east longitude, according to the institute.

Residents have evacuated to open outdoor areas, and no casualties have been reported so far, according to local media.

The Philippines experiences frequent seismic activity due to its location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a zone of major tectonic plate boundaries known for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

xinhua