MANILA - An earthquake of 7.9 magnitude struck off the Philippines on Friday and a tsunami warning has been issued for the region, the US Geological Survey and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

The quake was centred off the east coast, 91 miles (146 km) off the town of Guiuan in Samar province at a depth of about 20 miles (32 km), USGS said.

The tsunami warning was issued for the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea and other islands in the Pacific including the US state of Hawaii.