Earthquake shakes southern Philippines

MANILA- A 6.1 magnitude earthquake shook parts of the southern Philippines on Monday but was too far offshore to cause serious damage, Philippine and US agencies said.

The quake's epicentre was in the Sulu Sea, about 205 kilometres west of the southern port city of Zamboanga, said Philippine government seismologist Ishmael Larag.

The quake set furniture swaying in Zamboanga but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

"It was too far from inhabited areas to cause damage," Larag told AFP in Manila.

No tsunami warning was issued although there may be aftershocks, he said.

The US Geological Survey said the quake was 37 kilometres.