The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake had a magnitude of 5.0 and was only 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) deep.

With an epicentre just outside Baguio it set objects moving, terrifying residents who still remember a 1990 tremor that killed several hundred people.

Residents rushed out of their houses until after the shaking stopped, an AFP reporter on the scene said.

Afterwards many remained fearful until Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan made a radio broadcast saying that the quake caused no damage and that government seismologists said no aftershocks were expected.

The US Geological Survey put the quake's magnitude at 4.7 with a depth of 52.8 kilometres.

The mountain city of Baguio, considered the summer capital of the Philippines because of its cool weather, suffered huge damage when a 7.8-magnitude quake struck the country on July 16, 1990.

Multi-storey hotels collapsed and landslides left the city isolated for days, leaving many residents still sensitive about tremors.

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