Manila, Dec 13 (TIWN) An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.5 struck Occidental Mindoro province on Monday, the Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

The institute said the quake, which struck at 5:12pm. local time, hit at a depth of 104 kilometers, about 23 kilometers northeast of Paluan.  The quake was also felt in Metro Manila, Batangas province, Zambales province on the main Luzon island.  The institute said the quake, which was tectonic in origin, is expected to trigger aftershocks but not cause damage.  The Philippines has frequent seismic activities due to its location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire".- Xinhua