A strong earthquake measuring 6. 8 on the Richter scale shook Lingayen, the Northern Philippines early December 12 morning, and damage and aftershocks are expected, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

In a preliminary report, the institute said the epicenter was 61 kilometers southwest of Lingayen, Pangasinan Province.

The earthquake struck at 02:03 a.m. (18:03 GMT Saturday) and lasted about one minute.

As the epicenter was only around 150 kilometers north of Manila, the earthquake was strongly felt in the capital city. Residents rushed out into the streets and power supply was temporary suspended. The quake shook trees, rocked buildings and toppled some electric posts in the capital city. Walls of building in Manila cracked.

The institute put the intensity in Manila at 6.

The possible source of the quake was from Manila trench, it said.

Philippine Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado was quoted by local radio as saying that there were no immediate reports