A resident walks past damages caused by an earthquake at Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur province, southern Philippines on Dec 3, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

MANILA - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 rocked the Philippines' Occidental Mindoro province on Tuesday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

The institute said the quake, which occurred at 4:23 pm local time (GMT 0823), hit at a depth of 79 km, about 7 km southeast of Lubang town.

The tremor was felt strongly in the capital region Metro Manila and other areas in central and northern Philippines

The tremor was felt strongly in the capital region Metro Manila and other areas in central and northern Philippines.

The institute said the tectonic quake will trigger aftershocks but will not cause damage.

Last Saturday, a 7.4-magnitude offshore earthquake hit southern Philippines, killing at least one and injured 12 others, according to official report.

The archipelagic Philippines has frequent seismic activities due to its location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire."