A POWERFUL 7.6 magnitude earthquake has hit the Philippines as Japan issued a tsunami alert, the US Geological Survey said.

The huge tremor struck the island of Mindanao on Saturday at a depth of 20 miles at about 10.37 pm local time.

The quake took place about 13 miles northeast of Hinatuan and could reportedly be felt as far away as Davao City, some 121 miles away.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said based on the magnitude and location it expected tsunami waves to hit the southern Philippines and parts of Indonesia, Palau and Malaysia.

Tsunami waves could hit the Philippines by midnight local time (4pm GMT) and could carry on for hours, the Philippine Seismology Agency PHIVOLCS said. 

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Teresito Bacolcol of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology Seismology told AP his agency advised residents along the coast of southern Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental provinces to evacuate immediately to higher grounds. 

The USGS gave a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 while the Philippine agency in charge of earthquakes said it measured 6.9.

It comes as Japan also issued a tsunami warning for its Pacific coast.

The country anticipates a 3.2ft wave will hit the country as early as 1.30am local time, public broadcaster NHK announced.

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