Two powerful earthquakes have hit the Philippines' second-largest island of Mindanao, prompting initial fears of a potential "destructive tsunami". The US Geological Survey measured the first tremor late on Saturday at 7.6 magnitude, and the one that followed shortly afterwards at 6.4.

By Mikhail Flores MANILA (Reuters) -Evacuations were under way in the Philippines after a quake of at least magnitude 7.5 struck the southern region of Mindanao on Saturday, triggering tsunami warnings in the country and in Japan,

Manila: A magnitude 6.4 aftershock shook the southern Philippines, the US Geological Survey said Sunday, shortly after a powerful quake hit the region and triggered a tsunami alert that sent people fleeing inland.

People near the coast in parts of the island of Mindanao were told to evacuate to higher ground.

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck Saturday off the cost of the Philippines island of Mindanao. A tsunami warning was issued. The quake struck at 10.37pm and was measured at a moderate depth of 32 kilometres (20 miles).

In Japan, authorities issued evacuation orders affecting thousands of people. There were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties.