Southern Philippines earthquake; tsunami warnings in Indonesia, Japan

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake has shaken part of the southern in the southern Philippine city of General Santos, killing at least five.

Waves as high as 1.4m has been recorded in regional coasts, the Philippines Seismology agency says.

Power outages were reported and people were urged to go to higher ground.

In response to the earthquake, Indonesia is issuing a  tsunami warning.

This earthquake has the potential to generate a tsunami, with an alert status issued for several areas in Indonesia, including Minahasa, Bolaang Mongondow, Manado, North Minahasa, and Buol, Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, told the press.

Waves recorded in Indonesia so far range between nine and 18cm.

Japan also issues tsunami advisories for the coastal areas from Ibaraki Prefecture on the country's eastern Pacific coast to the island prefecture of Okinawa in the south.