MANILA, Oct 16 — A strong and shallow 6.4-magnitude quake hit the southern Philippines today, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said, sending hundreds rushing out of a shopping mall where local television said an elderly man was injured.
The man received treatment after being struck by a falling object during the early evening quake, ABS-CBN television reported from the scene.
The quake, which was 14 kilometres deep, was centred around 7.7 kilometres from the city of Columbio on Mindanao island at 7:37 pm (1137 GMT), according to the US monitor.
Chief Philippine government seismologist Renato Solidum advised residents to check their homes for possible damage.
He said there was no risk of a tsunami because it occurred inland, and there were no immediate reports of serious damage.
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. — AFP
