Another tectonic earthquake occurred at the Philippine Sea that sent tremors to several towns in Bicol and Southern Luzon early Thursday morning, seismologists at the Philippine Institute on Volcanology and Seismology said.

In an advisory, Phivolcs said the earthquake originated about 156 kilometers east of Virac in Catanduanes at about 2:49 a.m.

The Quezon City-based institute said movement of Philippine Fault Zone along the East Luzon Trench near Catanduanes caused the tremor, which occurred at a depth of 31 kilometers.

The earthquake was at Intensity II, or slightly felt by few individuals at rest indoors in Virac, Catanduanes and Naga City, Camarines Sur.

It was Intensity III in Legaspi City, Albay; Cabid-an, Sorsogon; and Guinayangan, Quezon where vibration was felt like the passing of a light truck for a couple of seconds.

Phivolcs said no major damage resulted from the temblor, and no aftershock was expected.

Earthquakes regularly occur in the Philippines because the country lies over several trenches and fault lines and is situated within the Pacific Ring of Fire, where volcanic activities also trigger earthquakes.