Magnitude 6.6 quake rocks Cotabato

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Tulunan, Cotabato on Tuesday morning, according to PHIVOLCS.

The earthquake, which was tectonic in origin, occurred at 9:04 a.m.

Its epicenter was located at 06.92°N, 125.05°E - 026 km N 73° E of Tulunan.

PHIVOLCS said it is expecting damage and aftershocks.

The following were the intensities:

• Intensity VII - Tulunan & Makilala, Cotabato; Kidapawan City; Malungon, Sarangani
• Intensity VI - Davao City; Koronadal City; Cagayan de Oro City
• Intensity V -Tampakan,Surallah and Tupi, South Cotabato; Alabel, Sarangani
• Intensity IV - General Santos City; Kalilangan, Bukidnon
• Intensity III - Sergio Osmeña Sr., Zamboanga del Norte; Zamboanga City; Dipolog City; Molave, Zamboanga del Norte; Talakag, Bukidnon
• Intensity I- Camiguin, Mambajao 

PHIVOLCS is still monitoring the activities of the faultlines in Mindanao to pinpoint which caused the latest tremor, according Executive Director Renato Solidum.

"Isang lugar lang ang pinanggalingan nung magnitude 6.3 na earthquake noong October 16," Solidum told Dobol B sa News TV, referring to the other quake that hit parts of Mindanao on October 16 that left seven people dead and over 50 others hurt.

"It is in the same general area ng mga aftershocks noong 6.3, so patuloy pa rin na kumikilos 'yung fault. Tintingnan din natin kung 'yung katabing fault ay kumilos, marami pong fault sa paligid nito," he added.

Solidum said that the earthquake will not trigger a tsunami.

"Yung ating mga kababayan sa ka-Mindanaoan ay hindi dapat mag-alala sa posibleng tsunami. Hindi po magti-trigger ng tsunami, napakalayo na po sa dagat," he said.

North Cotabato Governor Emily Lou Mendoza said the quake lasted for a minute and drove people running out of government establishments in the municipality of Carmen.

Mendoza said she saw a house that partially collapsed after the earthquake. According to her, the police already responded.

“Sa tingin ko bago ito dito sa bayan ng Carmen. Mas malakas yung naramdaman namin ngayon kaysa noong nakaraan,” she said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV. 

"Our municipal hall has been destroyed," said Reuel Limbungan, mayor of Tulunan, a town near the epicenter.

"We are receiving lots of reports of injuries, but we have to confirm them," he told Agence France-Presse.

The earthquake has prompted several local governments in Mindanao to suspend classes for the day.

As of 10 a.m., local governments in Mindanao are still assessing the damage from the quake. 

One casualty was reported in South Cotabato. The victim is in critical condition after being hit by falling debris.

Classes have been suspended in Carmen town as well as work in North Cotabato's capitol.

Patients in a hopsital in Kabacan were evacuated, according to North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza. —with Dona Magsino and Joviland Rita with Agence France-Presse/KBK/RSJ, GMA News