The temblor was centered 66 miles east of Samar Island and hit at a depth of 21.7 miles. The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.9, but it has since been downgraded.
Officials said at least one house collapsed in southern Cagayan de Oro city, killing a 54-year-old woman and injuring her 5-year-old grandson. Power was knocked out in several Philippine cities.
A tsunami alert was temporarily in effect for the Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, Guam, the Northern Marianas and Papua New Guinea.
