5.2-magnitude earthquake hits central Philippines

MANILA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A shallow 5.2-magnitude earthquake shook Eastern Samar province in the central Philippines on Friday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Phivolcs said the quake, which struck at 12:33 p.m. local time, hit at a depth of 1 kilometer, about 72 kilometers northeast of Guiuan town in Eastern Samar province.

Phivolcs said the tremor was felt in Borongan City, the capital of Eastern Samar province.

The institute said it does not expect damages but added that aftershocks could rattle the province.