An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale occurred near Mindoro, an island of west-central Philippines, at 2:27 p.m. (0627 GMT) Friday, according to a bulletin released by the Hong Kong Observatory.

The epicenter was initially determined to be 12.6 degrees north latitude and 120.6 degrees east longitude, about 220 km south of Manila.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damages.

(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2009)