POWERFUL QUAKE IN MINDANAO KILLS GENSAN COUPLE

THE magnitude 6.8 earthquake that hit parts of Mindanao on Friday has claimed the lives of a couple in General Santos City.

Police identified the fatalities as Danny Ginung, 26, and his wife, Jane, 18, of Bgy. Sinawal in the city.

The couple died when a concrete wall collapsed on their shanty when the tremor struck.

Meanwhile, a video showed terrified shoppers in a mal in General Santos City hiding under fast-food restaurant tables while screaming as the buiding shook.

The video also showed some pieces of the ceiling falling.

People were seen running for safety.

Reports said a power outage hit General Santos City and Sarangani.

Disaster officials reported that a landslide closed the national highway going to tourist destination areas in Glan, Sarangani.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the tremor hit the waters 30 kilometers southwest of Sarangani town at 4:14 p.m. on Friday.

Phivolcs said damage and aftershocks are expected,

However, the Agency said there was no tsunami threat.