PHILIPPINES: At least 26 people lost their lives after a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines on Tuesday night, officials confirmed.

The earthquake, which hit off the coast of Cebu City just before 22:00 local time (14:00 GMT), caused power outages and damaged several structures.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology later canceled its tsunami advisory, saying any minor sea level disturbances had largely subsided.

The local government of San Remigio municipality declared a state of calamity, citing widespread damage and disruption to daily life.

Cebu City, with a population of almost one million in the Visayas region, is among the worst-affected areas by the devastating quake.