3-story building caves in after 6.9 magnitude quake in Davao del Sur

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — A three-story commercial building in Padada town of Davao del Sur caved in after a powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit the town on Sunday afternoon.

It is yet unclear, as of this posting, if people were trapped inside the damaged building.

Several market vendors were also pinned down by a collapsed wall in Padada, but residents immediately offered help to rescue them from the rubble.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said that the quake struck 6 kilometers northwest of Padada at around 2:11 p.m.

The earthquake, which was tectonic in origin, has a depth of 30 kilometers.

Intensity 6 was felt in Matanao in Davao del Sur but people reportedly felt the ground shaking from northern to southern Mindanao.

Phivolcs said that aftershocks and damages should be expected.

The earthquake also prompted evacuations across Mindanao especially in malls that were packed with the Sunday crowd.

Phivolcs said that the earthquake will not generate a tidal wave in Mindanao.

The quake, the strongest to have hit Mindanao so far after the series of powerful quakes in October, was felt at Intensity 7 in Matanao and Magsaysay towns of Davao del Sur; at Intensity 6 in Kidapawan City in Cotabato province and General Santos City in South Cotabato; Bansalan, Davao del Sur; Alabel & Malapatan in Sarangani province and Koronadal City.

It was felt at Intensity 5 in Tulunan and Matalam in Cotabato province; Cotabato City; Davao City; Glan, Sarangani; at Intensity 3 in Kalilangan, Talakag & Dangcagan, Bukidnon; at Intensity 2 in Impasugong, Bukidnon; Cagayan de Oro City; Dipolog City; and at Intensity I in Zamboanga del Sur, according to Phivolcs.

Edited by JE