Quake of 5.4 magnitude rattles southern Philippines

MANILA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake of 5.4 magnitude rattled Zamboanga del Norte province in the southern Philippines on Monday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

The institute said the quake, which struck at 11:11 a.m. local time, hit at a depth of 35 km, 22 km northwest of Baliguian, a town in Zamboanga del Norte province situated at the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao.

The institute said the quake was also felt in the seaside Zamboanga City.

The institute said the tremor, which was tectonic in origin, is not expected to cause damage. No aftershocks are expected, the institute added.