Quake strikes off the Philippines

An earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of the northern Philippine province of Batanes Friday, authorities said.

The epicentre of the quake was initially determined to be 20.75 degrees north latitude and 119.92 degrees east longitude, with a depth of 32 km, Xinhua reported citing the the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said.

The agency said it expects aftershocks.

No casualties and losses have been reported so far.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity. About 20 to 25 earthquakes occur in the country everyday, most of them not felt by the general populace.