MANILA, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Batangas Province on Philippines' main Luzon Island Friday morning, the Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology (Phivolcs) said.

File photo: Agencies

The institute said the quake, which struck at 7:43 a.m. local time, hit at a depth of 74 kilometers, about 10 kilometers northwest of the Calatagan town, about 100 kilometers south of Manila.

The quake was strongly felt in parts of the capital Manila and nearby provinces.

The institute said the quake, which was tectonic in origin, will trigger aftershocks and will cause damage.

The Philippines has frequent seismic activity due to its location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire".