The quake had magnitude 6.8 and was as strongest southwest of Davao on the island of Mindanao. A six-year-old girl is alleged to have been killed when a wall collapsed over her, according to the mayor of Matanao.

Several aftershocks

Both people and buildings have been damaged but the extent is still unclear according to the authorities. Several aftershocks have occurred. In the city of General Santo City, a hospital has been evacuated on patients since it became powerless.

This time, the epicenter was l28 kilometers down in the earth's crust below land and not below the seabed, reducing the likelihood of a tsunami wave. The Pacific Tsunami Center has also issued no warning.

Earthquakes common

This is the fifth time in two months that the area around dense Davao has been hit by an earthquake, with the last seven people killed.

The island nation of Philippines is located on the horseshoe shaped so-called Eldringen which surrounds the Pacific Ocean and is known for its many earthquakes and active volcanoes.