British holidaymakers have been given urgent travel advice after an earthquake devastated the Philippines, with a tsunami likely to follow.
Earlier today, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Mindanao, an island in the southern part of the Philippines.
Authorities have warned that aftershocks are expected, with likely damage to buildings and infrastructure in the surrounding area.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has issued a tsunami warning and advised residents and visitors in the affected areas to evacuate to higher ground as soon as possible.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advised against all travel to western and central Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago.
The FCDO has also reminded Britons that their travel insurance will be invalid should they travel against the advice of the office.
They have also warned against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao.
Travellers are still able to travel to Camiguin Island, Dinagat Island, and Siargao Island.
British travelmakers have been advised against travelling to the Philippines following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake
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The advice has been put in place due to terrorist activity and clashes between military and insurgent groups in the south of the Philippines.
The earthquake hit at 7.37am local time this morning and has left at least 32 people dead.
More than 100 people have been injured across several provinces, with over 20 people left missing.
The island is the second-largest island in the Philippines, with a population of around 26 million people.
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The earthquake has left at least 32 dead
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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said in a statement that forces were working together on their disaster response.
"The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind," he confirmed.
President Marcos has also suspended schools in the affected areas of the Philippines, with the quake taking place on the first day of the school year.
Over 130 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial quake, with magnitudes ranging from 1.3 to 6.7.
The earthquake triggered a landslide in Glan, Sarangani province, which killed 13 villagers, and four others died elsewhere in the province.
Phivolcs and the US Geological Survey both measured the quake at magnitude 7.8, making it the strongest to hit the Philippines this year.
The quake occurred at a depth of 20 miles.
"It's a major earthquake and we're expecting damages and we've already some damaged buildings based on videos we've seen," said Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol.
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