Earthquake hits off

Earthquake hits off
northern RP

HONG KONG (AFP): An undersea earthquake measuring five on the
Richter scale struck yesterday between northern Philippines and
Taiwan, the Hong Kong Royal Observatory said.

The quake was recorded at 0408 GMT with its epicenter in the
Luzon Strait, about 160 kilometers south of Kao-shiung in
Taiwan.An earthquake measuring five can cause considerable damage
in populated areas.

Earlier Tuesday the Indonesian meteorological office in
Jakarta reported an earthquake of 5.5 on the Richter scale off
the western coast of Sumatra island.

The epicenter of the quake, which struck at 1236 GMT on
Monday, was about 190 kilometers southeast of the city of Padang
in West Sumatra.