MANILA, Philippines: A magnitude 5.4 earthquake took place on Thursday morning in Surigao del Sur, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

The tremor occurred around 8:23 a.m. some 77 kilometers southeast of the town of Cagwait, also in the same province, Phivolcs director Teresito "Toto" Bacolcol told The Manila Times.

Tectonic in origin, it had a depth of focus of 15kms, Bacolcol said.

The Phivolcs chief said Intensity 5 was felt by residents in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur while Intensity 4 in Bislig, also in the same province.

He said both damage to infrastructure and aftershocks were unlikely from the latest tremor.