Two people have died after the 6.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the southern Philippines today, which authorities said also caused extensive damage.
A man and a woman were crushed to death by a wall that collapsed in front of a timber company near the city of General Santos where the couple worked, local authorities said.
“The wall fell on them,” officer Christopher Larano told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The underwater earthquake occurred 16 miles (26 kilometers) off Burias, on the island of Mindanao, in the far south of the Philippines, according to the USGS.
It happened at a depth of 78 kilometers at 4:14 PM local time (8:14 AM in Lisbon), without a ‘tsunami’ warning being issued. The earthquake was felt across much of the mountainous island.
“I think it was the strongest earthquake I ever felt,” said Keeshia Leyran, 27, in Davao City, about 200 km from the epicenter, where she was attending a conference. “People around me panicked and ran away,” Leyran added.
Chaotic scenes in General Santos City, Philippines, after a powerful 7.2M earthquake rocks a shopping mall pic.twitter.com/N8G0O6kgUx
– Worldview (@worldview50) November 17, 2023
A photo shared on the social network Facebook and verified by AFP shows a roof that collapsed at a shopping center in General Santos, less than 100 km from the epicenter.
A video shows terrified customers at another mall in General Santos taking shelter under tables at a fast food restaurant as tremors hit the building and parts of the ceiling fall to the ground.
“We were on the second floor and all we could do was hide under the tables,” said Gregorio Narajos, 34, who filmed the scene.
“I saw material falling from the ceiling. When we came out, we saw cracks and debris outside,” the witness added.
About 30 students from a nearby university were treated for breathing difficulties due to panic caused by the earthquake, said Adrian Imbong of General Santos’ emergency medical services.
Captain Giecarrjune Villarin, of the Sarangani Municipal Police, said he and his colleagues fled the building where they were staying, about 30 kilometers southeast of the earthquake site. However, no loss or damage has been reported to you.
The Philippines regularly experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, an arc of seismic faults around the ocean.
Source: DN
