The death toll from the magnitude-7.8 earthquake now stands at 15, according to officials from the Philippine Office of Civil Defense.

According to local civil defence office director Rodrigo Sosmeña, 12 of the fatalities were reported in Soccsksargen - a region spanning four provinces and one city: South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City.

At least 129 people were reportedly injured in the region, he added.

More than two dozen buildings, many of them commercial establishments, have been damaged by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in the southern Philippines.

Here are images from General Santos City, near the epicentre of the quake.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

The earthquake struck as the new school year began in the Philippines.

Videos posted on social media showed young students screaming in fear as the ground shook violently. Teachers were seen hugging young children and trying to keep them calm.

Image source, EPA

Image source, Philippine Red Cross

Buildings have collapsed, and casualties are feared after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the Philippines' southern tip at 07:37 on Monday (23:37 GMT Sunday).

If you're just joining us, here's what to know:

• The quake struck off the coast of General Santos City, located on Mindanao, the Philippines' main southern island
• At least three people have been confirmed dead and five others are injured, police say

• Videos and images show buildings collapsing. In this one, a Jollibee fast food restaurant crumbles to the ground
• Tsunami warnings were issued in several countries, from the Philippines to Indonesia, Japan and Australia. Some of those warnings have been lifted now
• Tsunami waves ranging from 3cm (0.1ft) to 0.8m (2.7ft) were recorded in Palau, Indonesia and the Philippine region of Davao, according to the US Geological Survey
• Authorities urged residents to immediately evacuate to higher ground. "Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind," Philippine President Marcos warned

Tsunami waves have been recorded in six areas of Mindanao, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

The affected areas are mostly along Mindanao's southern coast.

The waves were observed between 07:42 and 08:45 local time (23:42 to 00:45 GMT). The highest of the recorded waves measured 1.4m (4.6ft).

The tsunami warning for the Philippines remains in place, the agency told reporters.

Since the initial magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck off the Philippines' southern coast, 138 aftershocks have been recorded as of 11:00 local time (03:00 GMT), according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

The magnitudes of these aftershocks range from 1.3 to 6.7.

Police have confirmed that the earthquake has killed at least three people and injured five others.

They estimate that the quake also damaged 37 buildings, mostly commercial.

Philippine authorities say tsunami warnings remain in force as waves are still being recorded following a 7.8M earthquake that struck the south of the country.

“We will not yet lift the tsunami warning as our instruments are still recording tsunami waves. There were also sea level disturbances that were recorded,” Winchelle Ian Sevilla, a science research specialist at the state vulcanology agency has told local outlet ONE News.

The waves measured "a couple of centimetres" in height, he adds.

A tsunami warning issued earlier by Indonesian authorities has been lifted.

As we reported earlier, tsunami waves measuring 0.3ft (9cm) and 2.7ft (0.8m) were observed in Northern Sulawesi province.

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck this morning off the Philippines main southern island of Mindanao, causing buildings to collapse and triggering tsunami warnings in some countries.

The earthquake was felt as far away as Davao City, nearly 200km from the epicentre. Below are some photos taken from the city, showing people fleeing for safety.

As we reported earlier, the USGS said a tsunami measuring 1.5ft (0.5m) was recorded in Davao.

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

We are seeing reports of deaths, however these have yet to be confirmed officially.

Authorities are verifying at least five reported deaths, Reuters reports.

A police official has told AFP that at least one person has died and four are injured.

Diego Mariano, an information officer from the Philippine national disaster agency, says reports of casualties are being monitored.

There has also been reports of major damage across various infrastructure, he says.

He warns the public to avoid re-entering their homes or other buildings, especially those with signs of damage.

Tsunami waves have been recorded in Palau, Davao in the Philippines and Northern Sulawesi province in Indonesia, according to the US Geological Survey.

The waves in two areas of Palau measured 0.1ft (3cm). In two locations in Northern Sulawesi, the waves measured 0.3ft (9cm) and 2.7ft (0.8m). As for Davao, a 1.5ft (0.5m) wave was recorded.

Meanwhile, a tsunami advisory issued earlier for Guam and Northern Mariana Islands has been cancelled, the USGS said in an update.

A resident of General Santos city captured this dramatic video of the quake destroying a building housing a branch of popular Philippines fast food chain Jollibee.

Image source, Bloomberg via Getty Images

General Santos Airport has suspended operations for safety assessments after the earthquake, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

The Transport Department says operations at other airports in Mindanao remain normal.

Simon Atkinson
Australia reporter

Australia has cancelled its tsunami watch after the earthquake in the Philippines.

The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre had initially warned there was a “potential tsunami threat" Christmas Island and Northern Territory.

Meanwhile New Zealand authorities say "the initial assessment is that the earthquake is unlikely to have caused a tsunami that will pose a threat to New Zealand".

At least one person has been killed and four injured after the quake, AFP news agency reports, citing a police official in General Santos City.

Master Sergeant Robert Dagon says "a number of buildings collapsed" but he is unsure how many as they are "busy with ongoing rescues".

Image source, Philippine Red Cross

The Philippine Red Cross says it's on the "highest alert", having been deployed to the ground.

Its members are "assessing structural damage" and coordinating evacuation and relief operations, the group says in a post on social media.

General Santos, one of the areas worst-hit by today's earthquake, is known as the country's tuna capital, because of the southern port city's bountiful supplies of the fish.

It is also known as the hometown of Manny Pacquiao, the world boxing champion who was later elected congressman and senator.

Multiple aftershocks - at least 16 of them - have been recorded since the initial quake that struck off the coast of the southern Philippines at 07:37 local time (23:37 GMT).

These range from magnitudes of 1.3 to 6.7, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.