Strong 6.3 magnitude quake hits Philippines: USGS

A strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the Philippines island of Luzon on Monday afternoon, the US Geological Survey said.

The quake struck at 5.11pm local time (0911 GMT) at a shallow depth of 40 kilometers (25 miles).

AFP reporters in the capital city Manila said central offices were evacuated and buildings were shaking.

Five people were killed when at least two buildings collapsed, a local official said.

The Philippines is part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches from quake-prone Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.