An earthquake with moderate strength sent tremors over several areas in Bicol region Thursday morning, the Philippine Institute on Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said.

In an advisory, PHIVOLCS added that the 5.3-magnitude quake happened at about 10:02 a.m. on January 21, 2010, whose origin was located in the Philippine Sea at about 148 kilometers east of Virac in Catanduanes.

The early warning agency on earthquakes and volcanic eruption also said that the temblor had a shallow depth of focus, with energy coming from around 35 kilometers from under the ground.

The shaking of the ground was caused by the movement of Philippine Trench in the Eastern Luzon section near Catanduanes, which was felt at Intensity IV in Legaspi City, Camalig, and Bacacay in Albay province.

PHIVOLCS added that the quake was also felt at Intensity III in Viga and Virac in Catanduanes province.

Saying that the earthquake did not cause any damages on houses, buildings, nor roads, volcanologists working in PHIVOLCS clarified that they expect aftershocks to occur.