(REUTERS) - An earthquake measuring 6.1 magnitude struck in the ocean off the south-east of the Philippines on Monday (April 10), the United States Geological Survey said.

There were no immediate reports of damage.

The quake struck 236km east south-east of General Santos on the southern island of Mindanao.

Hundreds of residents of coastal areas in a province south of the capital fled to higher ground fearing a tsunami on Saturday after a series of earthquakes on the main island of Luzon.