An undersea earthquake of up to 7.2 magnitude has shaken the southern Philippines, hitting about 26 kilometres south of the country.
The quake struck off the shore of the Mindanao region at a depth of 10 kilometres, according to the German Research Center for Geosciences.
Philippines’ seismology agency said the quake lasted several seconds and had a magnitude of between 6.9 and 7.2.
Shallow earthquakes, between zero and 70 kilometres deep, are more likely to cause damage on the Earth’s surface.
There were no immediate reports of casualties but residents were advised to be on alert for aftershocks and damage.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said no tsunami was expected.
Philippines police said officials had been sent to check on a nearby shopping mall that was reported to have been damaged.
“The employees were ordered evacuated for their safety.
“According to police in the area, there was extensive damage but we could not ascertain definitely yet the extent,” said Amor Mio, police chief of Koronadal city, near the quake’s epicentre.
Passengers at an airport in General Santos City were evacuated to the tarmac, according to Michael Ricafort, who was about to board a plane to Manila when the quake hit.
Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippines’ seismology research centre, told DZRH radio the earthquake’s intensity was “destructive, so we would expect damage”.
The Philippines lies in the “Ring of Fire”, a belt of volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean that is prone to seismic activity.
Mindanao is the country’s second largest island and home to some 26 million people.