Large earthquake strikes off Philippines

A 7.6-magnitude earthquake has struck off the eastern Philippine island of Samar, causing tsunami evacuations and power cuts.

The regional tsunami warnings have now been lifted.

The earthquake struck at a depth of 33km (20 miles) at 20:47 local time (12:47 GMT), the US Geological Survey said.

The quake was said to be long and violent, with some roads and bridges reported to be damaged.

One woman was reported to have been killed and a young child injured when a house collapsed in Cagayan de Oro city, on the main southern island of Mindanao, officials said.

Tsunami warnings were initially issued for Indonesia, the Philippines, Palau, Taiwan, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Yap, but they have all now been lifted.


The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a tsunami had been generated, but the waves witnessed were small. Some parts of the southern and eastern Philippines were hit by a wave of 16cm (6in).

The epicentre of the quake was 146km from the town of Guiuan, on the southern tip of Samar.

- BBC.co.uk