Strong Philippines quake damages 30 houses, 2 mosques

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines

A strong earthquake hit parts of southern Mindanao island on Wednesday, damaging at least 30 houses, two mosques, some commercial buildings, a school and several roads, local authorities said.

According to the Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the magnitude 6 quake had its epicenter in Wao in Lanao del Sur province. It was also felt in the provinces of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental, the cities of Cagagan de Oro, Cocabato, Gingoog and Davao.

Wao’s municipal disaster office said the tremor caused a wide crack on the highway near an army outpost in the village of Panang where four houses, two mosques and a school were destroyed.

Francis Garcia of the disaster office told ABS CBN News that 30 houses had been damaged in at least three villages. The fence of the elementary school in the village of West Kili-Kili also collapsed due to the quake.

Some residents sought shelter at evacuation centers while several people reported minor injuries from falling debris, Garcia said.

The quake occurred four days after another strong tremor rattled the northern Philippines province of Batangas on Sunday, which also caused damages to several houses and triggered the evacuation of more than 5,000 people.