Southern Philippines hit by new powerful 6.5 magnitude earthquake

Southern Philippines was hit by a new powerful 6.5 magnitude earthquake on October 31 which reportedly made the residents of the area flee homes, schools, and malls, with initial reports of damage to some buildings. The epicentre of the earthquake was located on the island of Mindanao, the US Geological Survey said. This is the same area where a strong tremor killed at least six people on Tuesday. The Geological survey added that there were no threats to the tsunami. As the Philippines is part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin, tremors are regular in the country. Thursday's quake is the third since mid-October in the same area of Mindanao island which falls in the Southern part of the Philippines. 

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Reuel Limbungan, mayor of the Tulunan town, which was once again near the epicenter told the media that everyone rushed outside during the earthquake and felt that it was stronger than the previous one which happened on Tuesday. 

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The destruction caused by back to back quakes in the Philippines

Magsaysay town spokesman had informed the media earlier this week on Tuesday that a teenage boy was crushed by a falling wall as he tried to escape his school in the town. Other students were injured in stampede he added. Four others were killed by rocks and landslides while a collapsed wall crushed another man, authorities said. As per reports, a total of 50 people were hurt by falling debris, including some seven pupils and teachers hurt escaping their collapsed elementary school. Two weeks ago a 6.4-magnitude quake hit the Philippines that killed at least five people and damaged dozens of buildings. On October 16, residents fled the Mindanao region and a mall caught fire in the city of General Santos shortly after the quake struck. That led to the displacement of hundreds within two weeks after that quake when the new one struck earlier this week. The deadliest of them all, hit the Philippines in April killing 16 as a building near the capital Manila collapsed and the secondary Clark airport was shut down due to damage to the passenger terminal. There were cracks in several walls and high rise buildings swayed after the quake.

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(With inputs from agencies)

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