A strong 6.4quake rocks Philippines,Taiwan

2008-06-01 09:52:08 - US Geological Survey said that a strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked the northern Philippines and southern Taiwan on Sunday.

Philippine Taiwan"s Central Weather Bureau said the magnitude 6.8 quake hit at around 9:57 a.m. (0157 GMT). It was faintly felt in Taiwan.

The bureau said the epicenter was located in the Pacific Ocean about 340 miles (560 kilometers) southeast of Taiwan"s capital of Taipei, near the Bashi Channel that separates Taiwan and the Philippines.

The epicenter was as deep as 29
miles (46 kilometers) below the ocean surface.

In Manila, Renato Solidum Jr., head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, gave the quake magnitude at 6.3.

He said the tremor was felt in the Philippines" northernmost province of Batanes but was too deep to cause any major damage or casualties.

Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake had a magnitude of 6.3 with an epicentre about 76 kilometres west of the Batan town of Basco.

The quake was felt strongly in Basco but was barely noticeable in the northern provinces of the Philippines" main island of Luzon, the institute said, adding that aftershocks were expected.

It was also felt in southern counties of Taiwan.

There is still no reports of damage or loss of life from the tremblor affect but its epicentre being in the low sea bed its adevrse impact may have diluted.
The intensitymore than 6 can bring down temporary structures.