MANILA/JAKARTA - At least one person was killed and four others were injured following earthquakes that struck the Philippines, according to local media reports on Monday.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said a magnitude 7.8 offshore earthquake hit waters in the southern Philippines on Monday morning, and warned of a tsunami.

The institute said the tectonic earthquake occurred at 7:37 am local time at a depth of 33 km, with the epicenter 32 km southwest of the coast of the Maasim town of Sarangani province in Mindanao island.

The institute issued a tsunami warning to nine coastal provinces, strongly advising residents in those areas to immediately evacuate to higher ground or move farther inland following the quake.

It is forecast that the first tsunami waves will arrive on Monday morning and continue for hours.

The local media reported that the quake damaged some buildings and caused a power outage. Tremors were felt in neighboring provinces.

The Philippines experiences frequent seismic activity due to its location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire", a zone of major tectonic plate boundaries known for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. 

Indonesia urges northern coastal residents to evacuate

Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) on Monday urged the evacuation of residents to higher ground in northern coastal areas of the country threatened by tsunami waves following a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake in the southern Philippines.

Minor tsunami waves were detected at several coastal monitoring stations in northern Indonesia, the BNPB said in a statement. Given the aftershocks following the strong quake, the agency has urged officials in affected provinces such as North Sulawesi and Gorontalo to immediately direct residents to remain vigilant, stay away from the shores, and evacuate to higher ground in an orderly manner.

The powerful earthquake in the Philippines has caused panic among residents in some coastal areas of northeastern Indonesia, local media reported on Monday. The tremor was felt across various cities and villages, but there have been no immediate reports of casualties.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said a magnitude 7.8 offshore earthquake hit waters in the southern Philippines on Monday morning. In response, Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency has issued a tsunami warning for the country's northeastern coastal areas.