UPDATE 3-Strong quake in Philippines kills one, injures dozens

* One child dead, more than two dozens injured
* Buildings, houses suffer cracks
* Authorities still assessing damage, casualties

(Adds details, comments from government officials)
By Neil Jerome Morales and Peter Blaza
MANILA, Oct 16 (Reuters) - A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck
the southern Philippines on Wednesday, killing at least one
child and injuring more than two dozen other people.
Government authorities were starting to receive reports from
field officials on the island of Mindanao where the earthquake
struck, opening cracks in buildings and homes, sending residents
running from shops and offices and knocking power out.
"Our hospital chief reported that a child died because of
the earthquake," Reuel Limbungan, mayor of Tulunan town in North
Cotabato province, told the DZMM radio station. Two more people
were injured, he added.
The earthquake also shook Davao City, the hometown of
President Rodrigo Duterte and among the most populous cities in
the country.
In Magsaysay town, in the nearby province of Davao del Sur,
20 people were injured by falling debris and home furniture,
Anthony Allada, the municipality's information officer, told
DZMM.
"Many houses were totally damaged... Another person is in a
critical condition," Allada said.
The municipality of M'lang, in Cotabato province, reported
three injuries, Vice Mayor Joselito Pinol told DZMM radio.
The United States Geological Survey said the quake struck 69
km (43 miles) north-northwest of the city of General Santos,
Mindanao at 7:39 p.m. (1137 GMT). The epicentre was about 80 km
southwest of central Davao.
"We felt a very strong jolt and there was a blackout. I saw
people rushing down. We were panicking, heading to the exit,"
said Naru Guarda Cabaddu, a hotel consultant visiting Kidapawan
City, between the epicentre of the quake and Davao.
The Philippines is on the geologically active Pacific Ring
of Fire and experiences frequent earthquakes.
"I was driving back home when I felt a very powerful shake.
I stopped and saw people and patients running out of the
hospital," Raprap Rafael, a resident of Kidapawan City, told
Reuters. "I'm not sleeping at my home tonight."
Renato Solidum, head of the Philippines seismic agency, told
the ANC news channel there was a chance of aftershocks, which
could be strong and capable of causing severe damage.
"Aftershocks can happen. Some can be felt most likely in low
intensities. But we cannot remove the possibility of similar
intensities that can be felt in the epicentral area," he said.