Magnitude 5.2 earthquake jolts Masbate

Debris are scattered at a house after a magnitude quake struck in Cataingan in Masbate on Tuesday. (John Mark Lalaguna/Philippine National Red Cross via AP)

MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Masbate at 5:50 a.m. Wednesday as an aftershock of a strong quake that rattled the central Philippines Tuesday.

The latest tremor, which centered 12 kilometers southwest of Cataingan town, was the strongest recorded aftershock since a 6.6 magnitude quake shook the island province, other towns in the Bicol Region, and a large swath of the Visayas.

Wednesday’s quake had a depth of focus of six kilometers.

No reported intensity was recorded from this quake, but Phivolcs said more aftershocks are expected.

The Phivolcs earlier said the magnitude 6.6 earthquake was caused by the movement of the Philippine fault zone, a 1,200-kilometers-long major tectonic feature that transects the whole Philippine archipelago from northwestern Luzon to southeastern Mindanao.

The tremor left one person dead and 32 others hurt in Masbate.

Phivolcs