A powerful magnitude 6.7 earthquake hit the southern Philippines on Friday, resulting in one fatality, dozens of injuries, and structural damage, as reported by authorities. The quake, with a depth of 60 km (37.3 miles), originated off Mindanao island, according to the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ).
Angel Dugaduga, a disaster response official in Glan, a coastal town near the epicenter, confirmed one casualty and 18 injuries, with reports of damage to the municipal office building and gymnasium. The quake also caused a power outage in the area. Earthquakes are frequent in the Philippines, situated in the seismically active “Ring of Fire.”
While the Philippine seismology agency PHIVOLCS and the Pacific Tsunamic Warning Center ruled out a tsunami, there are reports of additional damage. Amor Mio, the police chief of Koronadal city, stated that a shopping mall was reportedly damaged, with evacuations ordered for safety.
PHIVOLCS director Teresito Bacolcol warned of the earthquake’s destructive intensity, advising residents to remain vigilant for potential aftershocks as strong as magnitude 6.2. Witnesses in General Santos city reported significant shaking, with cracked walls and falling computers.
Economist Michael Ricafort noted in a Facebook post that passengers at General Santos City airport were evacuated to the tarmac in response to the earthquake.
