A 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit the northernmost Philippine islands of Batanes at 09:57 a.m. local time (0157 GMT) Sunday, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

The Phivolcs said in a news release that the earthquake was in a shallow depth of 42 kilometers under the seabed and its epicenter was located at 78 kilometers southwest of Basco island of Batanes.

No damage or casualties were expected from the earthquake, which was tectonic in origin, said Philvolcs.

The quake was also felt in northern Luzon's Ilocos and Cagayan regions, said Philvocs, adding that no aftershock was expected.

China National Seismological Network also reported the strong earthquake measuring 6.3 magnitude hit the Bashi Channel between China's Taiwan and the Philippines at 9:57 AM Sunday, Beijing time.

The epicenter is located at 20.1 degrees north latitude and 121.3 degrees east longitude, it said.

The US Geological Survey put the earthquake at a 6.4 magnitude.

(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2008)