MANILA - The death toll following the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Mindanao Wednesday night has risen to 5, local officials confirmed.

"Sadly, we already have 5 casualties from the earthquake that occurred last night," Mark Timbal, spokesperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), told ANC Thursday.

Two of the dead were children. Police said one of them, a 7-year-old girl, was crushed by a wall that fell during the tremor in Tulunan town, North Cotabato.

A 2-year-old girl from Magsaysay town in Davao del Sur also died when falling objects hit her while asleep.

Another reportedly suffered a heart attack during the earthquake.

Timbal said more than 50 people were also injured in the tectonic temblor, the epicenter of which was in Tulunan but was felt in different provinces and nearby areas.

• Magnitude 6.3 quake hits North Cotabato, nearby areas

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said the earthquake was "moderately strong."

The US Geological Survey measured the quake at magnitude 6.7.

Phivolcs has recorded 246 aftershocks as of early Thursday.