CEBU (Updated) -- A magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit North Cotabato around 7:37 p.m. Wednesday, October 16, with the epicenter located 23 kilometers southwest of Makilala town (not Tulunan as earlier reported).
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said damage and aftershocks are expected as the quake was shallow, with a depth of 15 kilometers.
As of 10 p.m., several aftershocks have so far been recorded.
Aside from the 6.3-magnitude quake, the Phivolcs also reported three moderate tremors in Mindanao, this time with the epicenters located in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat.
The first one, a magnitude 5.5 tremor, occurred at 8:09 p.m., followed by a magnitude 4 and 4.3 that hit at 8:34 p.m. and 9:25 p.m., respectively. The epicenters were located several kilometers southeast of Columbio in Sultan Kudarat.
Phivolcs said the magnitude 6.3 tremor in North Cotabato was felt at intensity 7 in Tulunan, M'Lang, and Kidapawan City; intensity 6 in Tacurong City; internsity 5 in Kalamansig, Lebak and Palimbang in Sultan Kudarat, as well as in Pikit and President Roxas in North Cotabato; intensity 4 in Cotabato City, Sultan Kudarat, Matanog and Barira in Maguindanao; and intensity 1 in Zamboanga City.
It was also felt at instrumental intensity 7 in Kidapawan City; intensity 5 in Tupi and Polomolok in South Cotabato, as well as Alabel, Sarangani; intensity 4 in Kiamba in Sarangani, T'Boli in South Cotabato, and General Santos City; intensity 3 in Cagayan de Oro City and Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental; intensity 2 in Cagayan de Oro; and intensity 1 in Dipolog City and Bislig City.
Residents in Davao City evacuated from malls and buildings when the 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck, SunStar Davao reported.
"Nakakatakot at nakakatawang pangyayari. Wala ko kasabot giunsa namo paggawas in less than a minute sa shop! (It was frightening and funny at the same time. I didn't know how we got out of the shop in less than a minute)," said Mark Anthony Cutamura in an interview with SunStar Davao Wednesday evening.
Cutamura was having a facial treatment inside a mall in Davao City when the tremor struck. He left the mall still with his facial mask on.
People who trooped to GMall in Davao City also rushed outside the building in panic.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued no tsunami warning following the quake. (LMY/SunStar Philippines)