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Two strong earthquakes rock southern Philippines

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MANILA: Two strong earthquakes jolted the southern Philippines on Tuesday, authorities said, with the second damaging buildings and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of villagers from their homes.


A 6.0-magnitude quake struck at about 2:00 pm, a few kilometres from Maragusan municipality in the mountainous gold-mining province of Davao de Oro on Mindanao island, the US Geological Survey said.


Local authorities said there were no reports of casualties or significant damage.


But a shallower second quake, measuring 5.6 magnitude, hit nearly three hours later in the neighbouring municipality of New Bataan, triggering the collapse of some houses.


New Bataan disaster officer Lynne Dollolasa said nearly 300 people were forced to leave their homes in Andap village, where "a number of houses collapsed".


About 100 people inside a shopping mall in Tagum city, in the adjacent province of Davao del Norte, were hit by falling glasses and plates as they fled the building, said Jay Suaybaguio, the provincial information officer.


"I was in the third floor buying office supplies when the quake suddenly struck," Suaybaguio said.


"When we reached the first floor we saw broken bottles of wine and condiments. The lights went out but emergency lights turned on, helping us to find our way."


The first quake lasted about 30 seconds and was followed by aftershocks, said Corporal Stephanie Clemen, a police officer in Tagum, about 40 kilometres from Maragusan.


"We immediately went under our desks and when the ground stopped shaking we went straight outside," Clemen said.


"We are still outside because a moderate aftershock just hit."


While the quake did not appear to have destroyed anything, Clemen said, it was strong enough to "cause fear".


Quakes are a daily occurrence in the Philippines, which sits along the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of intense seismic and volcanic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin. — AFP


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