A strong earthquake shook the southern Philippines yesterday, killing at least three people, toppling buildings and sending panicked residents fleeing their homes, media reports and authorities said.

The 6.5-magnitude earthquake knocked out power in the city of Surigao, more than 700 kilometres southeast of the capital Manila, and an unknown number of people are believed to be trapped in rubble.

At least seven people were injured by falling debris in the quake which the US Geological Survey said struck at a depth of 27 kilometres at 10pm local time.

The Philippine seismological office recorded a magnitude of 6.7 with an epicentre 14 kilometres north of Surigao. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat.

Three people have died, radio station DZMM reported, citing the military, but no further details were given.

Regional civil defence spokeswoman April Sanchez said seven people were injured outside Surigao while an undetermined number had been hurt in the city.

"They can't say how many yet because of the power outage" caused by the earthquake, Ms Sanchez said.

University professor Rocks Tumadag said many people in Surigao rushed to higher ground after the quake in fear of a tsunami.

He said aftershocks were still rocking the city hours after the quake.

"There was panic in the streets," he said, adding that many structures had sustained damage and rubble littered the streets.

"I was sleeping and when the quake happened. There were 10 to 15 seconds of vertical motion."

"When it stopped, I grabbed my youngest daughter and ran outside. My wife also ran outside, my eldest daughter was crying," he said.

"We have a lot of quakes here but this was the strongest ever."

A civil defence statement said one bridge had collapsed along with at least one building and several houses.

"There were reported trapped individuals inside. Rescue efforts are ongoing," the statement said.

"We are not okay. Mass hysteria here," journalist Danilo Adorador was quoted saying on the website of Mindanews, a southern-based newspaper.

Vance Larena, a tourist in Surigao, told DZMM that glass doors and windows "shattered" during the quake.

"It was a good thing there was a table there (in the room) so we could duck and cover," he said.

Many residents gathered in a field for safety, he said.

"The people have calmed down but a while ago some were panicking, women were crying."

The Philippines lies on the so-called Ring of Fire, a vast Pacific Ocean region where many of Earth's earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

The last lethal quake that hit the country was the 7.1-magnitude one that left over 220 people dead and destroyed historic churches when it struck the central islands in October 2013.</s>MANILA (Reuters) - Four people died and more than 100 were injured after a powerful earthquake struck the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines late Friday, damaging some structures and cutting power in many areas, local officials said.

The 6.7 earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km and the epicenter was about 13 km east of the city of Surigao, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said there was no tsunami threat from the earthquake.

Renato Solidum, head of the Philippines’ seismic agency, said on radio on Saturday morning 89 aftershocks had been recorded and more could be expected but they were unlikely to cause significant damage.

Friday’s quake was the strongest since the city was rocked by a 6.9 quake in 1879, Solidum said.

People rushed to open spaces and spent the night in parks and shelter areas, according to radio reports.

Power-lines were down, water supply was interrupted, a bridge and a hotel collapsed and some homes were damaged, Surigao City Councilor Rise Recabo told DZRH radio.

Officials closed Surigao’s airport because of cracks on the runway.

The Philippines is on the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences frequent earthquakes.</s>(CBS SF) – An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.5 struck the southern Philippines on Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The USGS reported the earthquake struck at 6:03 a.m. Pacific time (10:03 p.m. Philippines time) about 7 miles northwest of Surigao City on the island of Mindanao, at a depth of 17 miles.

According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, there is no threat of a tsunami.

There are no immediate reports about damage or injuries related to the earthquake.

This article will be updated as information warrants, and follow KPIX 5 on Twitter at @CBSSF or KCBS Radio on Twitter at @KCBSNews for updates on breaking news anytime.

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 Tsunami Alerts & Maps</s>A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 has shaken the southern Philippines.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck late Friday and was centered about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) southwest of Talisay in Mindanao. It said it was located at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

It was near the coast, but the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a warning for an ocean-wide threat.</s>A 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit Surigao City on Friday night, which was felt at Intensity Six in the city.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on its website that the earthquake was recorded at 10:03 p.m., with the epicenter located 14 kilometers northwest of Surigao City, at a depth of four kilometers.

The tremor was felt also felt at Intensity 2 in Bislig, Surigao Del Sur and at Intensity 1 in the cities of Cebu and Cagayan de Oro City.

The earthquake was tectonic in origin, the Philvolcs said.

Philvolcs said it was expecting damage and aftershocks in the affected areas but there was no immediate report yet from disaster authorities in these areas.</s>(7th UPDATE) Surigao City's public information officer says some roads and bridges are no longer passable. The quake also damages some buildings and houses.

MANILA, Philippines (7th UPDATE) – A magnitude-6.7 earthquake struck Mindanao Friday night, February 10, leaving at least 6 people dead, local authorities said

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the quake hit at 10:03 pm, its epicenter 14 kilometers north of Surigao City.

The Office of Civil Defense-Caraga (OCD-Caraga) identified the casualties from Surigao City as JM Ariar, Roberto Eludo, Wenefreda Aragon Bernal, Lorenzo Deguino, Wilson Lito, and Roda Justina Taganahan.

The US Geological Survey (USGS), meanwhile, reported a 6.5-magnitude quake, striking 10 kilometers north-northeast of Mabua and some 12 kilometers north-northwest of Surigao, and occurring at a depth of 27 kilometers.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat from the quake.

At least 61 people were injured and 14 were admitted to the Caraga Regional Hospital in Surigao City, OCD-Caraga said on Saturday morning.

Regional civil defense spokeswoman April Sanchez said 7 people were injured in Sison town and 5 were brought to Bad-as Hospital in Placer, Surigao del Norte.

Surigao City public information officer Annette Villaces said some roads and bridges are no longer passable. The quake also damaged some buildings and caused houses to collapse.

Classes in all levels have been called off, along with work in government and private offices in Surigao City.

Phivolcs also reported a number of what appear to be aftershocks following the quake, ranging from 2.0 to 3.9 in magnitude. "There are a lot of cracks on the ground. Some of the bridges have also suffered cracks," said Daphne Agonia, the seismology chief based in Surigao.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) ordered the closure of the Surigao airport Saturday morning, dzMM reported.

In its Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), the CAAP also ordered the closure of Runway 18/36 until March 10, dzBB said.

Meanwhile, Port Police Froilan Caturla said that due to damaged and non-passable bridges leading to Lipata Port, all vessels and port operations will be diverted to the Port of Surigao.

The area's police chief Senior Superintendent Anthony Maghari told dzMM that he saw a schoolhouse had collapsed and that many other buildings had developed cracks.

Maghari added the city was suffering from a power outage and that police were checking for any more casualties.

University professor Rocks Tumadag said many people in Surigao rushed to higher ground after the quake, fearing a tsunami.

He said aftershocks were still rocking the city hours after the quake.

"There was panic in the streets," he told AFP, adding that many structures had sustained damage and rubble littered the streets.

"I was sleeping when the quake happened. There were 10 to 15 seconds of vertical motion."

"When it stopped, I grabbed my youngest daughter and ran outside. My wife also ran outside, my eldest daughter was crying," he said.

"We have a lot of quakes here but this was the strongest ever."

On Saturday morning, CDO-Caraga reported the following damaged stuctures:
• Some houses and walls in Brangays Baya-ag and Biabid in Sison town
• The Surigao State College of Technology and Yuipco Building in Barangay Taft in Surigao City
• Some roads and buildings in Mainit town

"There were reported trapped individuals inside. Rescue efforts are ongoing," the statement said.

Based on initial reports received by OCD-Caraga, the Anao-aon bridge in San Francisco town in Surigao del Norte was damaged. Some residential houses and commercial buildings were also damaged.

"We are not okay. Mass hysteria here," journalist Danilo Adorador was quoted as saying on the website of Mindanews, a southern-based newspaper.

Vance Larena, a tourist in Surigao, told dzMM that glass doors and windows "shattered" during the quake.

"It was a good thing there was a table there (in the room) so we could duck and cover," he said.

Many residents gathered in a field for safety, he said. "The people have calmed down but a while ago some were panicking, women were crying."

– with reports from Voltaire Tupaz, Bobby Lagsa, and Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com</s>A strong earthquake of 6.5 magnitude shook some parts of Mindanao and the Visayas late Friday, injuring at least two people, damaging some buildings, knocking out power, and sending hundreds of residents fleeing to safety, officials said.

There was no threat of a tsunami from the quake in Surigao del Norte province which struck about 14 kilometers (8 miles) northwest of the capital city of Surigao at a relatively shallow depth of 11 kilometers (6.8 miles), Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology (Phivolcs) said.

The quake was set off by movement in the Philippine fault.

Many residents were roused from sleep by the shaking and rushed into the streets, with some children crying in the confusion, coast guard personnel Rayner Neil Elopre said by telephone from the coastal city of Surigao, about 700 kilometers (430 miles) southeast of Manila

“The shaking was so strong I could hardly stand,” Elopre said, adding that village leaders asked many residents to move to a school building on higher ground. He paused briefly as a mild aftershock struck as he talked on the phone.

At the offie of the Philippine Coast Guard, plates and other objects fell to the ground, he said.

Police officer Jimmy Sarael said he, his wife and two children were roused from sleep by the quake, but they could not stand as the ground shook so they embraced their son and daughter tightly until the shaking eased. “I thought our house would collapse,” he said by telephone.

They later moved to the moonlit grounds outside the provincial capitol complex, where more than 1,000 other jittery residents fled and may spend the night in the open, he said.

According to Phivolcs, Intensity 6 was felt in Surigao City, where among the buildings damaged was the Parkway Hotel.

Senior Supt. Anthony Maghari, Surigao del Norte police chief, told ABS-CBN TV that parts of a small elementary school building reportedly collapsed, damaging a parked car while some debris fell from other buildings. At least one bridge was damaged, he said.

The Philippines lies in the so-called “Ring of Fire,” a line of seismic faults surrounding the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanic activity are common –With reports from Karlos Manlupig and Danilo Adorador II, both of Inquirer Mindanao /atm</s>MANILA, PHILIPPINES - A strong earthquake of 6.5 magnitude shook the southern Philippines late Friday, but no major damage was immediately reported.

 

 The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north-northeast of Mabua in Mindanao. It was about 28 kilometers (17 miles) deep.

 

 The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no ocean tsunami was expected.

 

 The Philippines lies on the "Ring of Fire," the line of seismic faults surrounding the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanic activity are common.

Follow the Channel 3 Weather Team on Twitter @wkycweather and on Facebook

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>Manila, Feb 10 : A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 has shaken the southern Philippines. The US Geological Survey said the quake struck late Friday and was centered about 2 kilometers southwest of Talisay in Mindanao.

Start the conversation, or Read more at India.com.</s>MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The tremors were registered at 14:03 GMT about 10 kilometers (over 6 miles) northeast of the town of Mabua.

​The epicenter of the earthquake was located at the depth of 27.9 kilometers.

There are no reports about damages and casualties.

The Philippines is located in a seismically active zone known as the Ring of Fire and regularly suffer from powerful earthquakes.
A 6.5 magnitude earthquake strikes 14 kilometers (8 miles) northwest of Surigao City on the Philippines island of Mindanao and kills four people, injures more than 100 others, and damages multiple buildings.