MANILA, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale hit the northern Philippines on Wednesday, but no casualty or damage to property was reported.

    The quake was recorded at 12:57 p.m. local time (0457 GMT), and the epicenter was 80 kilometers south-southwest of Laoag, Luzon, or 330 kilometers north of Manila at a depth of 50.0 kilometers, said the United States Geological Service.

    The Philippines is hit regularly by earthquakes, and most of them are low in magnitude and cause little damage.

    The Southeast Asian country is part of the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a string of islands on the Pacific Ocean rim that were formed by the eruptions of undersea volcanoes.