MANILA- A Davao City condominium building damaged in a powerful earthquake that struck Mindanao on Thursday was earlier ordered condemned, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said.

While Ecoland 4000 did not totally collapse, portions of its external walls and ceilings fell off, prompting disaster and emergency officials to rush to the complex.

Duterte-Carpio said the city engineer's office earlier told the condominium's management to condemn the building as it incurred huge cracks.

"All units owners were informed pero may mga renters na nag-express na wala silang malilipatan," Duterte-Carpio said in the vernacular.

(Some renters said they have nowhere else to go.)

She added that the city government already sent 3 notices to the condominium's management, informing them about the problems of their building.

"We'll explore possible legal actions kung makikita natin na mayroong evidence na mayroon silang pagpapabaya sa recommendations of condemnation ng building nila," Duterte-Carpio said.

(We'll explore possible legal actions to see if there is any evidence that they were negligent over the recommendations of building condemnation.)

Mindanao was again rocked by a powerful tremor on Thursday, this time, a magnitude 6.5 quake that struck 33 kilometers northeast of Tulunan town in Cotabato.

The town was also the epicenter of Tuesday's magnitude 6.6 quake and a magnitude 6.3 temblor last Oct. 16.

Nine tenants of the condominium were rescued after sustaining injuries. One of them was brought to the hospital after sustaining a bruise on the head due to falling debris.

Rescuers are still searching all 56 units of the condominium to see if anyone was left behind, Duterte-Carpio said but no person has been reported missing so far.

A standby evacuation site is located at Barangay Los Amigos, the mayor said.

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