MANILA, Oct 17 (NNN-PNA) – At least four people were killed and dozens injured, when a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck the southern Philippines, late on Wednesday, authorities said today (Thursday).
The earthquake knocked out power and communications and opened cracks in buildings in central Mindanao.
Four people were killed and 18 injured, in a landslide in Magsaysay town, in Davao del Sur province, national disaster agency spokesman, Mark Timbal, said.
A seven-year-old girl was killed, when a wall in her house collapsed, said Reuel Limbungan, mayor of Tulunan town, in North Cotabato province.
The disaster agency said 27 people were injured and 15 buildings damaged, including shopping malls, schools and town halls.
The earthquake also shook Davao City, the home town of President Rodrigo Duterte, and among the most populous cities in the country.
The quake struck 69 km (43 miles) north-northwest of the city of General Santos, Mindanao, at 7:37 pm (1137 GMT), the United States Geological Survey said. The epicentre was about 80 km southwest of central Davao.
“We felt a very strong jolt and there was a blackout. I saw people rushing down. We were panicking, heading to the exit,” said Naru Guarda Cabaddu, a hotel consultant, visiting Kidapawan City, between the epicentre of the quake and Davao.– NNN-PNA