A shopping mall was on fire this evening 16 after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Philippines.

Flames ripped through the building General Santos City on the southern island of Mindanao shortly after the quake hit at around 7.40pm local time.

Fire crews arrived on the scene but the blaze quickly engulfed the ground floor and third floor of the Gaisano mall in the Gensan district.

Mall staff and customers were all evacuated.

Renato Solidum, Director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, described the quake as "moderately powerful''.

He added: ''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.''

Local media said an elderly man was injured after being struck by a falling object during the early evening quake.

The man received treatment after being injured.