MANILA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- A shallow 5-magnitude earthquake hit Bukidnon province in the southern Philippines on Thursday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

The Phivolcs said the quake struck at 3:19 p.m. (0719 GMT), 19 km southwest of Talakag, a town of Bukidnon. with a depth of 001 km.

It said the tremor was felt strongest in Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City and Kaiilagan town, all in the southern Philippines.

The institute said it does not expect the quake to cause damage.