MANILA, January 4, 2010 (AFP) - A moderate, 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao early Monday, the US Geological Survey said.

There was no immediate tsunami warning.

The quake struck at 5:38 am (2138 GMT Sunday) and was centred 102 kilometres (64 miles) southeast of Davao, on Mindanao island, at a depth of 46 kilometres, the USGS said.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre did not issue any tsunami warning.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where continental plates meet, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity in the western Pacific.