Strong earthquake strikes southern Philippines with tsunami warnings issued

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook part of the southern Philippines at 7.37am, with the epicentre 13km south-west of General Santos City on Mindanao and an initial depth of 10km, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said. The US Geological Survey gave the same magnitude and a depth of 55.2km.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned of possible waves up to 3 metres on some Philippine coasts and up to 1 metre on parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. The quake collapsed some houses and damaged buildings in and around General Santos City; video verified by the Guardian shows the upper floor of a Jollibee restaurant falling and the outer concrete walls of a commercial complex giving way.

Power outages were reported and at least one person was killed. "Many buildings were affected, but I cannot enumerate them now because we are busy with ongoing rescues," Master Sergeant Robert Dagon said, and civil defence officials warned people not to enter damaged homes because of aftershocks.

Philippines, General Santos City, Mindanao

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