The Philippines has been rocked by a "strong" 7.6 magnitude earthquake, its second major tremor in just days.

Locals have been ordered to seek shelter on higher ground after a tsunami warning was issued.

The country's Phivolcs seismology agency warned of damage and aftershocks after the strong offshore quake, which struck in waters off Manay town in Davao Oriental in the Mindanao region.

It said the quake happened some six miles below the Earth's surface.

The governor of the southern Philippine province of Davao Oriental said people panicked when the earthquake struck.

"Some buildings were reported to have been damaged," Edwin Jubahib told broadcaster DZMM. "It was very strong."

People living in coastal towns in the central and southern Philippines have been ordered to immediately evacuate inland.

Heights of up to more than one metre above normal tides are now set to follow over the coming hours.

On September 30, 72 people died after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit Cebu, near the centre of the archipelago.

PICTURED: Rescue personnel stand in front of a damaged structure following a 6.9-magnitude earthquake, in Daanbantayan, Cebu province, October 1

Indonesia - which sits across the sea from October 10's quake, also issued a tsunami warning for its northern Sulawesi and Papua regions.

The country suggested there was a risk of tsunami waves as high as 50cm making landfall.

But a stronger alert came from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, which revealed how waves of one to three metres could hit the Philippines.

It added that coasts in Indonesia and island nation Palau could see waves of up to one metre.

The Philippines sits on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire" - and experiences more than 800 quakes each year.

This year, alongside the Filipino duo, Russia and Japan's Pacific coasts were rocked by the sixth-largest earthquake in recorded history.

Travel alerts were issued in almost 30 countries following the quake - thought to have been the largest in more than a decade.