Power knocked out and buildings and roads damaged as rescuers search for casualties

A 6.9-magnitude quake has struck off the the central Philippines coast, damaging buildings and roads and knocking out power in parts of the region, as rescuers searched for casualties.

Municipal workers checked a collapsed public building and a gym, both in the north of the island of Cebu, hours after the quake struck at sea off its northern tip at 9:59pm (1359 GMT), said Wilson Ramos, a provincial rescue official.