VIDEO: Schoolchildren hide under benches the moment earthquake struck Philippines

An earthquake of at least magnitude 7.5 struck Mindanao in the southern Philippines late on Saturday, triggering evacuation orders for some areas and southwestern Japanese coasts because of warnings of tsunami waves of a metre (3 feet) or more.

Now a video of the power earthquake tremors at a school is going viral on social media.

In the video schoolchildren can be seen hiding beneath benches after the tremors struck the area.

Boats already at sea during the period were directed to stay away offshore in deep waters until further advised," Phivolcs said, asking people living near the coast of Surigao Del Sur and Davao Oriental provinces to "immediately evacuate" or "move farther inland".

The Japanese broadcaster NHK said tsunami waves of up to a metre reached Japan's southwestern coast around 30 minutes later on Sunday (1630 GMT on Saturday).