The Philippines and Indonesia have issued tsunami warnings after a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao on Monday morning.

According to the US Geological Survey, the quake hit 24.7 kilometers (15.3 miles) west-southwest of the Philippine town of Burias at a depth of 35 kilometers (22 miles).

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned of tsunami waves exceeding one meter (yard), which could continue for several hours. Indonesia's seismological agency also issued a tsunami warning for its coastal areas.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued alerts for Palau, Taiwan, and Papua New Guinea, urging caution.

The Philippines lies on the edge of the Pacific's so-called 'Ring of Fire' — an arc of seismic faults that makes the country unusually prone to volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis.

Source: www.dw.com