4.6-magnitude quake rocks coast off Batanes

4.6 magnitude earthquake struck a town in Batanes. Photo from Phivolcs.

MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 4.6 earthquake hit a point off Batanes on Saturday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

Based on an initial earthquake bulletin, state seismologists said the tremor was spotted at 78 kilometers (km) southwest of Sabtang, Batanes at 1:57 p.m.

The earthquake was tectonic in origin and had a depth of 19 km, Phivolcs said.

State seismologists meanwhile assured the public that no aftershocks and damage will be expected from the earthquake.