General Santos, Philippines: A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday, killing at least three people, collapsing buildings, and sparking tsunami warnings across the region.

Philippine authorities urged people in affected coastal regions to move to higher ground after the offshore quake hit south of General Santos, a city of about 720,000. A series of powerful aftershocks rocked the area from about two hours after the first quake, with the largest measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale. Videos verified by AFP showed a shopping centre reduced to rubble in General Santos City, while a school building that officials said was unoccupied also collapsed.

Police reported two people were crushed to death by a collapsing wall in Alabel, a municipality near General Santos City, while another death and four injuries were confirmed separately. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said tsunami waves were possible "within the next three hours" along the coasts of the Philippines, Indonesia, Palau, Taiwan, and Papua New Guinea. Japanese authorities also issued a tsunami advisory for swathes of its Pacific coast.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos suspended classes in affected areas of Mindanao island and called on residents in coastal areas to evacuate immediately. "Move to higher ground now. Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind," he said. The airport in General Santos was closed until further notice. Monday's quake triggered evacuation warnings for coastal areas of neighbouring Indonesia and Malaysia.

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