6.4-magnitude earthquake, General Santos kills a child in Philippines

A child has been reportedly killed in a 6.4-magnitude earthquake which jolted the southern Philippines on October 16, as per a local Mayor after a house collapsed due to the quake. It was reported that the power cable snapped and a shopping mall burst into flames. The quake was 14 kilometres deep and was succeeded by two aftershocks.

Read: A Magnitude 6.4 Earthquake Hits Central Mindanao In The Philippines

A child killed as quake damages property

As per reports, in the aftermath of the quake, in Mindanao region which included a mall catching fire in the city of General Santos. A child was killed in a house collapse in the town of Datu Paglas while four residents of neighbouring Tulunan town were left injured when two other houses fell, Tulunan Mayor Limbungan said. 

Limbungan said the child was crushed under a collapsed house wall and was declared dead in the hospital. He said that he visited the medical facility and had spoken to its director. Rescue officials revealed that there were no reports of deaths anywhere else in Mindanao with an official Anthony Allada confirming 20 people were being treated for injuries in the town of Magsaysay which was near the epicentre of the quake.  

As per the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake was 14 kilometres deep and was succeeded by two aftershocks. Sara Duterte who is the mayor of Davao city and daughter of Filipino President said that it was the most powerful earthquake that she has experienced. The Philippines sits atop Pacific Ring of Fire which is an area of heightened seismic activity.  

Read: Magnitude 4.8 Earthquake Jolts Wilderness Area Of Central California

Injuries reported

According to reports, an elderly man was treated for injuries after being hit by a falling object when a Davao mall was being evacuated. A civil defence officer for the region said that several people were injured in the city of Kidapawan as a result of falling debris. In General Santos, footage revealed firefighters attempting to douse a raging fire which had engulfed a three-storey Gaisano shopping mall 

It was not clear immediately if there were still people inside the building, which was evacuated as the quake hit. Coastal residents of Davao were seen fleeing their homes after fearing tsunami but rescue workers were trying to calm them seeing that there was no warning issued as per city's civil defence Rodrigo Bustillo, adding, that the volunteers were out to calm the people and telling them that there was no threat of a tsunami. 

(With inputs from PTI)

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