MANILA, Philippines -- A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake off the coast of Davao Oriental on Friday triggered a tsunami alert, with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warning that hazardous waves could affect parts of the Philippines and nearby countries, including Indonesia and Palau.

The Honolulu-based center said waves as high as three meters above normal tides were possible within 300 kilometers of the quake's epicenter, raising alerts for coastal areas beyond the Philippines.

Meanwhile, smaller waves were possible in Indonesia and Palau. Neighboring Indonesia also issued a tsunami warning for its North Sulawesi and Papua regions.

The quake struck at 9:43 a.m. local time and was centered 62 kilometers southeast of Manay, Davao Oriental, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. /dm With a report from AP