Magnitude-6.1 quake hits Batanes

MANILA, Philippines - A magnitude-6.1 earthquake followed by two aftershocks struck Batanes island before dawn Thursday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

Phivolcs said that magnitude-6.1 quake struck 51 kilometers northeast of Basco town at 4:20 a.m.

The quake was felt at Intensity 5 in Basco, Itbayat, Mahatao and Ivana towns and Intensity 4 in Sabtang and Uyugan towns.

Two aftershocks measured at magnitudes 4.8 and 4.9 were also recorded by Phivolcs at 4:59 a.m. and 6:53 a.m., respectively.

Phivolcs said that despite the strong quake, it does not expect to cause damage in the affected areas. Dennis Carcamo