Sharjah 24 – AFP: A strong magnitude 6.7 earthquake shook the southern Philippines on Friday, the US Geological Survey said, sending people fleeing buildings and causing part of a ceiling inside a shopping mall to collapse.
No tsunami threat was issued after the quake struck off Sarangani province on the main southern island of Mindanao at a depth of 78 kilometres (48 miles) at 0814 GMT, the USGS said in a statement.
There were no immediate reports of casualties but the quake was felt across a wide area of the mountainous island.
A photo shared on Facebook and verified by AFP showed a collapsed ceiling inside a shopping mall in General Santos City, less than 100 kilometres from the epicentre.
About 30 students at a high school in the city were treated for breathing difficulties due to panic following the quake, said Adrian Imbong, an emergency medical services worker.
Sarangani municipality police officer Captain Giecarrjune Villarin said the quake was "really strong".
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