Moderate Quake Hits Bikol

MANILA, Jan. 21  -- A magnitude 5.3 undersea earthquake shook the Bikol region Thursday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Phivolcs chief Renato Solidum said the tremor, which rooted from movements of the Philippine Trench, struck at 10:02 a.m. and was centered about 148 kilometers northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.

The quake was not strong enough to trigger tsunami or tsunami warning, Solidum said.

The tremor was felt at Intensity 4 in Legazpi City and Camalig and Bacacay towns in Albay, and Intensity 3 in Viga and Virac, Catanduanes.

Tectonic earthquakes occur anywhere within the earth where there is sufficient stored elastic strain energy to drive fracture propagation along a fault plane, experts say.

Phivolcs said the temblor caused no damages but aftershocks may occur.

Last January 12, the region was rocked by a mild quake which measured 3.9 in magnitude.

Solidum said about 20 quakes occur within the country everyday, but some are not felt.

The Philippines is situated in a region known as the "Pacific Ring of Fire," which is characterized by frequent occurrence of volcanic and seismic activity. (PNA)

<!--Session data-->